Vintage metal 4 compartment money box with original key! This heavy well made item could now be used as a bathroom cabinet or funky jewellery box? Unusual to have original key. Some age related wear. A great piece of objet d'art.
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30 cm wide
17 cm depth
10 cm tall
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Metal money boxes evolved from ancient coin vessels, becoming more common and intricate, especially with the invention of mechanical banks in the 19th century, which featured moving parts to entertain users. During the Industrial Revolution, cast-iron banks gained popularity, particularly the animated mechanical banks. In the 20th century, banks introduced metal "home safes" to encourage small savings, which customers would later bring to the bank to be emptied and credited to their accounts.
Ancient Origins
The concept of money boxes dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, where they were used to store coins and other valuable items.
Medieval and Early Modern Periods
In the Middle Ages, money boxes were often simple ceramic or wooden containers with a slot for coins.
Metal was an expensive commodity, so it was not commonly used for household equipment during this period.
The Rise of Metal Money Boxes (18th & 19th Centuries)
By the 18th and 19th centuries, metal money boxes became popular, often crafted into decorative shapes like animals.
The Industrial Revolution led to the manufacture of cast-iron mechanical banks. These banks accepted coins and activated a mechanism that made a figure or object move, demonstrating more elaborate designs and moving parts.
The "Piggy Bank" Connection
The term "piggy bank" has roots in the 15th century, where people used pots made from an affordable clay called "pygg".
The pronunciation of "pygg" eventually became similar to the word "pig," and potters shaped the containers into pig figures to humorously reference the word.
Modern Metal Home Safes (20th Century)
In the 1920s, banks began distributing little metal home safes to customers to encourage small savings.
Customers would periodically take these safes to the bank, which held the key to empty and count the money, transferring it into a savings account. These were often well-made and pleasing to look at.