Darling Victorian Staffordshire Rabbit Money Box Covered in a wonderful Treacle Coloured Glaze

THE STORY - I confess, I have more than slightly fallen in love with these Victorian Ceramic Staffordshire Money Boxes. I think what I find so compelling and touching about them is the fact that they are all little victories over the power of money. These boxes or banks would have been produced relatively cheaply as the only easy access to the money saved within was to smash the box to smithereens, but these boxes must of meant more to their owners than that money (or they managed to fish the money out with a knife and a lot of patience). And I completely get why the owner of this money bank would not want to destroy it. It is I think most likely made by one of the Staffordshire Potteries in the middle of the Victorian era circa 1870 as is in the form of a recumbent rabbit. As I was photographing it I became aware that although very much larger the pose was very similar to that of a little Staffordshire Rabbit figurine I had in my shop a little while ago with the rabbit leaning ever so slightly to one side and those wonderful long ears. The rabbit sits of a base of what looks like pressed flowers in the front, holds in his paws what looks like a nut and as I have said in my title is covered in this beautiful treacle coloured glass beautifully highlighting both in light an dark certain areas of the rabbit like his ears and his eyes. The Slot for the dropping of the coins is quite large and is simply cut into the top of his back.

AGE - Circa 1870

CONDITION - This little Money Bank is in very good condition. I do think someone may have had a go with a knife at some point trying to get the money out as the glaze is a little chipped in the slot. This little guy does seem wonderfully free from damage, there is however a spit in the front of the base which I hope you can see in the sixth photo, this I think is not damage but it where the two seams of the mould were not completely smoothed together. Also around the very edge of the base there are little bits of white clay showing which I think is either where that thick glaze has not gone right to the bottom in a couple of instances it may have been chipped away. Also I do appreciate in the seventh photo of the base it looks like there is a hole in it, but it isn't it is simply a black dot, made by what and when I am unsure.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Length - 4&3/8" / 11cm, Height 2&7/8" / 7.5cm, Depth 2&3/8" / 6cm

So there is my little survivor, escaping being smashed to smithereens by eager hands wanting to get hold of the money within. Also I hold no irritation to the person who has fished out the contents with a knife as they have done so very gently and it meant this wonderful rabbit is with us today. And as I look at the rabbit I can't help but wonder if there is a science or is it just pure luck to how that beautiful rich treacle glaze falls giving both highlights and depth the rabbit in just the right places. Just beautiful.