-Horseshoe with Wire Mesh- still bank c. 1910 - 1925

Editor: Here we have an object called "-Horseshoe with Wire Mesh- still bank" made sometime between 1910 and 1925 by the Arcade Manufacturing Company. It’s a sculpture of metal and found objects and I must say it definitely leans into kitsch. How would you interpret the symbolism behind a piece like this? Curator: The convergence of the horseshoe, a universal emblem of luck, with the horse itself, long associated with prosperity and power, isn't accidental. Embedded within it is the idea of cultural aspirations. Note also how the wire mesh forms a sort of cage: what could be imprisoned, if not our own aspirations, or even the wild spirit of the horse itself? Does it perhaps point to a societal need to domesticate luck and wealth, contain it, much like we contain our currency? Editor: That’s a compelling idea. The image feels quite layered when you consider it as something beyond just a decorative piece. Does the idea of 'the American Dream' come into play here? Curator: Absolutely. Banks such as these arose alongside increasing financial access among the middle class. The horse becomes an everyman symbol – it speaks to ideas of progress and opportunity available to all. This kitsch object thus transforms into an embodiment of burgeoning hopes and ambitions. The choice of materials matters, too – it transforms the object from precious artwork into mass produced aspiration. Do you notice any inherent contradictions in it? Editor: Yes, I do now. I suppose it is a bit ironic to cage your good luck in what is, essentially, a manufactured good fortune. Curator: Exactly. It captures the beauty and complexity of cultural desire at that specific historical moment. Editor: It makes me consider how we assign meaning to objects in our lives. Thanks for expanding my view!