Vintage French Piggy Bank with Secret Combination Lock – Original Box – c.1960s

Vintage French Piggy Bank with Secret Combination Lock – Original Box – c.1960s

Description

A wonderfully quirky vintage French piggy bank with a secret combination lock, complete with its colourful original illustrated cardboard box. A delightful piece of mid-century childhood nostalgia with plenty of character and a rather clever little secret!

Known in French as a Tirelire à Chiffre Secret, meaning a money box with a secret number, this charming plastic piggy bank features a cheerful pink pig wearing a smart green top hat and bright yellow dungarees. Behind his back he proudly holds a representation of a 20-franc coin.

But this is no ordinary piggy bank!

The base incorporates three rotating numbered rings which form a secret combination lock. Coins are deposited through the slot in the pig's top hat, and the savings can only be retrieved by aligning the correct three-digit combination to release the base.

The original secret code is 878, carefully preserved on a small handwritten label on the underside. We have tested the combination mechanism, and it works very well, opening and closing as intended.

The original bright yellow cardboard box is particularly appealing, featuring colourful illustrations of the pig and printed French instructions explaining how to operate the secret lock.

Believed to date from around the 1960s, this unusual little money box captures the playful ingenuity of vintage novelty toys. Although the precise manufacturer has not been identified, its design, colourful moulded plastic construction and original French-language packaging are characteristic of the mid-20th century.

An attractive addition to a collection of vintage money boxes, French toys, retro childhood memorabilia or simply unusual and nostalgic curiosities.

Why We Love It

We particularly love the mischievous expression on this little pig's face, as though he knows something we don't!

The combination lock is such a clever feature, turning the simple act of saving pocket money into a little puzzle. Finding one with its original illustrated box and a working mechanism makes it all the more appealing.

A lovely survivor from a time when even a humble money box could be full of personality.

Condition

The money box is in good vintage condition, retaining its attractive original colouring and characterful detailing.

The three-digit combination mechanism has been tested and works very well, allowing the base to be opened and closed using the secret code.

There are some light surface marks and signs of age-related use.

The original cardboard box displays noticeable wear, including creasing, rubbing, tears and damage to the opening flaps and edges. Despite this, the colourful original illustrations and French instructions remain an attractive feature.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as these form an important part of the condition description.

Details

- Origin: French-market item

- Estimated date: Circa 1960s

- Material: Coloured moulded plastic

- Design: Novelty pig money box with green top hat

- Mechanism: Three-digit rotating combination lock

- Secret combination: 878

- Working condition: Tested and fully operational

- Packaging: Original illustrated French cardboard box

- Box dimensions: Approximately 17 cm high × 7 cm wide × 7 cm deep

Please note: This is a genuine vintage item showing signs of its age and previous use. Dating and identification are based on our research and experience, to the best of our knowledge.

Carefully packaged using recycled and reused materials wherever possible.