“Arthur Ryland” Christmas Moneybox, Verwood, Dorset, England, Late 19th C.

Description

Here we have a rare pottery moneybox. It was fired, as were all the Dorset pots over centuries, in traditional wood burning kilns which were responsible for all the wonderful surface markings and variations in colour.

Carefully incised, this splendid moneybox was made for Arthur Ryland as a Christmas gift in 1899.

Very popular with parents and children, these were given as a gift to the excited recipient for a birthday or Christmas as a first step to encourage thrift.

Of particular interest is the hole that passes through the neck just below the knop for taking either a piece of string or leather to suspend the box off the floor, perhaps to hang off the mantlepiece for Arthur to receive his tokens from parents or relations and to prevent him from running off with it!

This particular example is rare, with the two tiers to take different size coins, probably pennies and ha’pennies, and also the fact that many of these wonderful moneyboxes were made and lost as the eager young recipients would eventually smash the piece in order to recover the pennies saved. Wonderful.

Date
1899

Dimensions
6”H x 4”W   O/A approx.

Condition
In good condition, with minor wear commensurate with age and use.

Price
£495   $628-USD

Ref Number: 322171A
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