-Prancing Horse- still bank c. 1920s

This Arcade Manufacturing Company’s “Prancing Horse” still bank, was created from cast iron sometime in the early twentieth century. The gold paint, worn in places to reveal the dark metal beneath, gives it a history, as if it was dug up from the earth. The surface is smooth, but the cast iron creates a texture with a slight granularity that catches the light and dark, adding to the feeling of a well-loved childhood toy. The prancing pose is interesting as the horse is frozen mid-stride, an upward momentum made heavy by the iron, creating a tension between the earthbound and the sky. If I had to compare it to another artist, I’d say Franz Marc comes to mind. He also explores the animal form, but with an eye to the spiritual. This horse is a toy, sure, but it's also a potent symbol, full of nostalgia for simpler times and the boundless imagination of youth.