Majolica Head Pig Plate Orchies, circa 1900

Rare large Terracotta Majolica Pig Bavent Normandy.

Large French Majolica Bulldog Wall Platter Circa 1890. Diameter / 11.3 inches.

In the late 19th century the concept of thrift became a principle by which parents encouraged their children to safe money by putting their pennies into a "piggy bank", thus the proliferation of these items by pottery manufacturers, this particular example marked "SS" on the underneath indicating "A Smith Ltd.", Longton, England whose ceramic, china, and pottery business began in 1846 by Sampson Smith. Nicely molded and in excellent condition, this proverbial pig themed penny bank is painted overall white with a multiplicity of green "spatter" spots, the pig standing on all fours has a twisted tail in back. The original finish is beautifully glazed resulting in a lovely patina to this completely original bank with no restoration or touch up paint of any kind and all of it's original hand paint intact. Since these type of antique banks typically were made without a coin removal trap, the only way to extract the coins would have been the old "knife in the slot" method and retrieving the pennies one by one; or the more simpler method of smashing and breaking the bank, which is why locating these banks is very difficult, rendering a fine example particularly rare. This example is a wonderful addition to a collection of authentic still banks, folk art, or for those who accumulate pig items. This recently came from an estate collection of pig still banks. A similar example is referenced as #633 "Two Toned Pig" in Andy Moore's "The Penny Bank Book" written in 1984 when collecting pottery banks...

Add a whimsical yet artistic touch to your decor with this vintage Ludwig Konig glazed ceramic pig sculpture. Featuring a bold, hand-glazed finish in rich earthy orange hues, this charming piece embodies the essence of bohemian and mid-century design. The stylized form, with its exaggerated features and expressive stance, showcases Konig’s signature artistic craftsmanship. Whether displayed as a statement piece on a console table, bookshelf, or kitchen counter, this delightful pig sculpture adds warmth and personality to any space. This vintage ceramic pig...