Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
$230.00 USD

Up for sale is an authentic antique late 19th to early 20th-century (c. 1880s–1910s) hand-painted earthenware / redware pottery fruit-form still coin bank, molded in the realistic shape and scale of a lemon/lime.

Constructed from dense, hand-formed red clay/terracotta substrate weighing 10.9 oz, this bank features a hand-cut coin slot near the stem shoulder and an original embedded wire hanging loop. The piece retains its original cold-painted finish in citrus yellow and lime green enamels. It displays an untouched, highly organic surface patina with extensive natural paint flaking and chipping that exposes the rich, reddish-brown clay subterranean core.

  • Type: Still Coin Bank / Fruit-Form Bank

  • Subject: Lemon / Lime Fruit

  • Material: Redware / Earthenware / Terracotta Pottery

  • Age/Era: Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century (c. 1880s–1910s)

  • Origin: United States or European Continental (Primitive Folk Art)

  • Dimensions: Approx. 4" L x 3.5" W

  • Weight: 10.9 oz (309g)

  • Condition: Antique, uncleaned, as-found condition. Features heavy original surface paint wear, loss, and flaking revealing the underlying clay body. Structural integrity is intact with no cracks, repairs, or modern repainting.

Authenticity Assessment: The exposed subterranean material reveals a fine-grained, fired terracotta/redware body rather than soft, chalky plaster or modern ceramic white clay. The cold-painted organic enamel application lacks modern primers or synthetic resins, causing it to flake naturally along stress areas over a century of handling. The presence of an integrated iron/wire loop at the stem end, combined with the hand-cut, irregular coin slot, confirms early hand-finishing and authentic late 19th-century primitive pottery production techniques.

Reference

  • Book Title: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks

  • Authors: Andy Moore & Susan Moore

  • Page / Reference: Page 142 (Coverage of Pottery, Earthenware, and Composition Fruit Banks)

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Item Description and Condition Disclaimer

We take great care in researching, identifying, and describing each antique item to the best of our ability, drawing on available resources and hands-on examination. However, as dedicated enthusiasts rather than professional appraisers or certified experts, we cannot offer guarantees on authenticity, age, origin, or precise valuation. We strongly recommend that buyers perform their own due diligence, including consulting reference materials or experts, and thoroughly examine the accompanying photographs. These images are an essential component of our listing and depict the item's actual condition, including any visible flaws, wear, or imperfections consistent with its antique nature. It is the buyer's responsibility to inspect each lot and form their own assessment on condition, description and authenticity before purchasing. All items have signs of wear commensurate with age and usage. The lack of statement regarding condition does not imply that the item is in perfect condition or free from any and all defects. If you have any questions regarding the condition of the items, please ask and we will be more than happy to answer and/or provide additional photos as requested.

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Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery
  • Late 19th Century Redware Earthenware Lemon Fruit Coin Bank Antique Folk Art Pottery

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