Bidspirit auction | Mason and Hod Carrier -

Mason and Hod Carrier - Cast Iron Mechanical Bank - Made by the Shepard Hardware Company. Buffalo, New York - Pat'd. February 8, 1887. Although the racism in the Mason Bank may not be readily discernible, it is, nonetheless, directly under our sociocultural noses. So let's decipher the toy's hidden symbolic meaning. We find two men at work building a wall. The bricklayer (mason), trowel in hand, possesses a bushy mustache and a strong physique. He is rightly interpreted as a racist image of an Italian. And, with his leprechaun physiognomy and his flaming red hair, there can be no mistake as to the identity of the hod carrier, who is a satirically bigoted depiction of the Irish. All through America, our towns and cities had been built by good men from just such immigrant backgrounds. At most times, Americans have great respect for individuals who have a strong work ethic. Regrettably, the 19th century had seen such a steep and steady influx of foreigners into the United States that it caused an insidious xenophobic backlash fueled by ignorance and sheer racial intolerance. This specimen of the Mason Bank is highly superior quality. Condition: Near Mint with Original Box.