Seated Boy with Bicorne Hat on Chest (Novelty Bank)
Decorative art sculpture / Still bank • Unidentified manufacturer; likely American or European (French/German) novelty metalworks foundry
Style & Movement
Victorian / Belle Époque Decorative Arts; Genre Figurine
Medium & Technique
Copper-clad or bronze-patinated white metal (spelter) or cast iron; sand-casting technique with a cold-painted or electroplated finish
Creation Period
Late 19th to early 20th century (c. 1890-1920)
Dimensions & Format
Small-scale figurine; estimated 6 to 8 inches in height; vertical orientation
Subject Description
A young boy depicted in historicized or nautical attire, wearing a bicorne hat and a hooded cloak or sailor-style collar, seated atop a decorative chest or trunk. The chest features a coin slot, identifying it as a thrift bank.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; showing significant surface wear, oxidation, and loss of the original finish
Estimated Market Value
$50 - $150 USD
Auction Estimate
$40 - $100 USD
Provenance History
Unknown; likely a mass-produced domestic object found in middle-class households of the early 20th century
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of the 'Golden Age' of still banks and novelty metalware, reflecting the Victorian era's emphasis on teaching children thrift and the popularity of genre-based decorative home accents.
Notable Features
The presence of a coin slot integrated into the 'trunk' base; textured stippling on the chest panels mimicking leather or heavy metal; the bicorne hat suggests a Napoleon-lite or nautical theme popular in late 19th-century children's costume.
Condition Issues
Visible verdi-gris (green oxidation) around the coin slot; rubbing and thinning of the metallic finish on raised surfaces (shoulders, hat); potential structural seam gaps
Conservation Recommendations
Should be kept in a low-humidity environment to prevent further corrosion. Clean only with a soft, dry cloth; avoid abrasive metal polishes which will strip the remaining original patina.