The naïve and primitive Victorian folk art novelty pine money box, raised on stile ends, with brass mounts in the form of four Celtic type crosses, and central plaque poetically engraved ‘Wee Maggie is no a fool, she puts her money in her stool’, the whole surviving from the first decade of twentieth century Scotland.
Unknown.
The oldest find of a money box dates from 2nd century B.C. Greek colony Priene, Asia Minor, and features the shape of a little Greek temple with a slit in the pediment. Money boxes of various forms were also excavated in Pompeii and Herculaneum. The money box or piggy bank eventually became popular throughout England as a whimsical “money-saving” device for young children and are now desirable collectors items.
We have found one other money box of this design, which used the word Margaret instead of Maggie and was dated to 1909.
Pieces of folk art themselves are ephemeral, simple, and often crude, though they are always enchanting. They were made by unskilled people, usually provincially, for everyday use and enjoyment, and are naively decorated, and made of basic materials. Folk art provides an excellent insight into the everyday life of ordinary people in times of old, and for that reason we love it.
Truly made with ‘head, hand and heart’, a unique, humorous and charming object.
Condition is good, with the whole displaying a strong patination and deep rich colour with no structural damage. It probably had a drop in base to collect the pennies but this is absent. One of the celtic crosses is a little loose so spins on its axis.
By appointment only.
