A Fun Folky Red Earthenware Piggy Bank Recently Found in a Central Massachusetts Home

I thought I would have a little fun with tonight's report - this little whimsical guy was recently found in Hubbardston, Massachusetts by a Massachusetts antiques dealer. The sole purpose is a piggy bank; although a child's toy could also be argued. The bank appears to have some age to it. It is decorated with a greenish-colored lead glaze on top of a red earthenware body. I really enjoy the pig's face. It's fun and really shows how folk art can transition itself onto utilitarian pottery. Pigs were a popular figure with a variety of early American products that included cast iron, wood, carvings, weathervanes, embroidery, stuffed leather animals, fire boards, furniture and even formal paintings.

The bank was recently found in a Hubbardston home - which is located in the central part of the state. The entire bank was hand-made. None of it was molded - and I am led to believe it has been around for a while due to some visible wear on three of the four feet. The pig measures 3 1/2 inches tall and six inches long. It's a fun piece! The weight is heavy - which strongly suggests to me it could very-well be an American product; although banks were also popular with English potters as well. It could also be Continental European, but the face is what leads me to believe it may be American. I have never seen anything like it before. I know some forms like this (mostly animal figures) were made as end of the day pieces by Pennsylvania and Virginia potters in the nineteenth-century; however most of those pieces had no fundamental purpose. Pennsylvania potters were also known for making creative banks that included rocking horses, santa claus figures and dogs in a variety of unusual positions. That's only to name a few. Red earthenware banks were made in many forms by early American potters. Stoneware banks were also popular with nineteenth-century potters in Pennsylvania and New York - where each area also had fun with its forms.

I purchased the bank this morning directly from the antique dealer who discovered it  - at a local flea market on Boston's North Shore around 6:00am.

 Red Earthenware Piggy Bank

Probably Late 19th Century or Early 20th Century

Wonderful Folk Decorated Face

 Recently Found in a Hubbardston, Ma Home

Purchased this Morning at a North Shore Massachusetts Flea Market

 Unusual Decoration on the Back

Pig Decorated in a Greenish Lead Glaze

 Measures 3 1/2" Tall and 6" Long

The Entire Bank is Hand-Made

I am kind stumped on this one so any thoughts on a possible origin would be very-much appreciated. I think there's a chance it was made in Pennsylvania, but I am not positive of it. It doesn't exactly fit into the norm of what is known for end of the days pieces or banks made in the state. The weight does make it feel like its an American product.

I have also heard about a traveling potter known as the Hobo Potter who worked in Pennsylvania in the nineteenth-century, but this does not fit into his style either. The Hobo Potter was a potter who made animal figures in exchange for a bed to sleep in at night…etc.

Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...