Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Ceramics, Porcelain
Ceramic piggy banks have an interesting history. Why pigs, exactly, and not bank shapes or a tiny safe? Apparently, we use pigs because of language, and a simple mistake. The word “pygg” was an old English word for an orange clay commonly used to make jars, pots, dishes, and almost anything we use ceramic for today. Extra coins in a household were commonly dropped into a jar made from pygg. Language evolved over the next few hundreds years, and in the early 19th century when some English potters were asked to make pygg banks, they made banks shaped like pigs. They were a hit with customers, and the piggy bank was born—or so the most widely believed explanation says.
One other version of the origin of the ceramic piggy bank claims that a young boy in the early 20th century wanted to raise money to help lepers. He sold his pet pig and donated the money from the sale to help leprosy victims. His generosity caused people to call it the Pig Bank Movement, thus staring the name piggy bank. A church in Kansas bears a plaque commemorating the boy and his generosity, and the piggy bank in general.
Who hasn’t had a piggy bank at some point in his or her life? Ceramic piggy banks are popular items today, and are often given to children at birth or as a first birthday gift, as an heirloom and to foster the good habit of saving money for a rainy day. Silver-plated banks are often engraved with the child’s name and date of birth or some other milestone date when given as gifts. And often tradition has the gift-giver putting the first coin into the bank before giving it as a seed for future wealth.
The value of collectible ceramic piggy banks hinges on a number of things like the age, the condition, and the significance of the design or the bank itself (did it belong so someone noteworthy, or was it created by someone famous, for instance.) What kind of piggy bank you purchases depends on whether or not you’re interested in it as a collectible, or if it’s simply because you love the design.
Vintage ceramic piggy banks can be called vintage simply because they’re not in a currently popular style. Be sure it’s not just labeled as vintage, but collectible as well, if you’re looking for an investment piece to add value to your collection. The uniqueness of the bank, and the quality and condition all figure into the price and the value.
Very old ceramic piggy banks will often have cracks, chips or crackling. If you can find a very old bank intact, you’ve probably found a nice collector piece. Just be sure to ask the seller, whether online or in person, if repairs have been made, if any chips have been glued, or if any type of re-glazing has been done to the bank. You’ll want one as close to its original condition as possible.
Originally posted 2008-10-29 14:00:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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4 comments ↓
i have a dark brown poodle piggy bank with a lock. it separates from the neck. it’s wearing a white hat with a red bow on the side.it also has a red bow around the neck.the lock has regina/20 mm. the lock and poodle has made in japan. is it worth any thing. it is approximately 4 1/2 to 5 inches tall.
I have a ceramic bank that looks like a tree trunk. It’s light green, with brown and white tints. I know that its around 60 years old, because I have had it all my life. On the top is Smokey the Bear, his hat says Smokey. The words “save for the future save forests from fire” are around the rim. I want to give it to my granddaughter, but I might put it back in storage and wait a few more years if it’s worth anything. It’s in perfect condition, no scratches or breaks.
I have a old shoe house piggy bank. The roof is red, the door and windows are brown, and the rest is yellow
I collect Smokey Bear. Bob, your bank was made by American Bisque in the 1950s. It’s a good find. I’ve wanted that for a long time and could never find it.
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