This charming, substantial figural coin bank features an architectural, high-relief design depicting the classic Mother Goose nursery rhyme, "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe." The bank is creatively sculpted in the form of a lace-up work boot transformed into a whimsical multi-story cottage.

The piece exhibits exceptional molded details across all perspectives:

• The Boot Chassis: Stippled leather texturing details the quarters and vamp of the boot, flanked by neatly spaced lacing eyelets along the throat. Tiny windows with pane moldings are scattered across the sides, including a distinctive paneled door with an overhanging gabled porch near the heel counter. The toe box features an embedded multi-pane window arch.

• The Roofline: The top opening of the boot is capped by a beautifully rendered pitched shingle roof featuring a molded chimney structure that doubles as the primary coin drop slot.

• The Base: The underside of the casting contains a smooth circular opening under the forward toe section to allow coin retrieval without dismantling the piece. The bottom perimeter is finished with a vintage, deep-indigo/purple felt protective lining to prevent scratching on delicate surfaces.

This heavy-cast figural piece displays beautifully, showing rich depth from its original casting lines and a subtle, warm metallic glow. It makes an excellent addition to any collection of novelty banks, nursery-rhyme Americana, or fine vintage metalware.

Origin & Material

• Origin: United States / Japan (Unmarked mid-century export/novelty ware)

• Material: Fine Cast Pewter / Heavy White Metal Alloy

Dimensions & Weight

• Height: 4.25 inches

• Length: 4.75 inches

• Weight: 15.8 oz (98.75% of a full pound—feels very substantial in the hand)

Age

• Era: Mid-20th Century (Circa 1950s–1970s)

Condition Report

The item is in excellent, honest vintage condition and is offered in its true "as-found" estate state.

• Surface & Patina: The piece retains its authentic, undisturbed grey matte surface with gentle, scattered oxidation and minor surface highlights from handling over the decades. It has not been subjected to harsh chemical polishes or modern abrasives, completely preserving its original structural patina.

• Structural Integrity: The two-halves casting seam is solid and tight with no structural separation or warping. There are no cracks, structural breaks, or post-manufacture repairs.

• Base Lining: The vintage blue/purple felt base remains firmly adhered and intact with only minor, expected age-related fibers and handling shelf wear.

Reference

Book Title: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks

Author: Andy Moore

Page Reference: Page 73 / Page 112 (Subject: Whimsical Figural Houses, Boots, and Nursery Rhyme Still Banks)

Authenticity Assessment

1. Seam Lines: The vertical mold-joined alignment running down the center of the toe box and rear heel counter demonstrates authentic factory two-part mold production rather than a modern centrifugal spin-cast counterfeit or cold-cast resin reproduction.

2. Internal Metallurgy: The sand-textured, unpolished crystalline gray surface observable inside the bottom coin port validates that the item is composed entirely of solid cast metal throughout, rather than weighted lead or composite plastics.

3. Wear Pattern: The micro-abrasions and natural darkening along the recessed window frames and shingle ridges match decades of genuine environmental exposure rather than an artificially induced chemical distressing.

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