Cat Saving Bank
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 30.5 x 22.9 cm (12 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8325
Art Historical Context
**Cat Saving Bank** by Mina Lowry (c. 1940) captures the whimsical charm of an American folk art object: a still bank shaped like a seated cat, designed for children to save coins. These playful ceramic banks, popular in the late 19 and early 20th centuries, reflect everyday American ingenuity and the cultural emphasis on thrift during economic ups and downs. Lowry's rendering preserves this humble yet endearing piece of material culture, highlighting how ordinary household items embodied creativity and practicality. Created as part of the **Index of American Design** (1935–1942), a Works Pro...
About the Artist
Mina Lowry
Mina Lowry (1894–1942), an American artist born in Canada, emerged as a prominent portrait painter whose career bridged traditional portraiture and the documentation of American folk art. Immigrating to Buffalo, New York, with her family around 1901, she honed her skills early on, winning first prize for modeling at the Albright Art School and studying under the esteemed Florence J. Bach. Lowry fu...