Pig with ridge on back (or -Fish-Pig-) still bank c. 19th century

This green glazed earthenware bank, playfully titled "Pig with ridge on back (or -Fish-Pig-)," asks us to consider the layered identities of objects. Created by an anonymous artist, it embodies the resourcefulness often found in folk art. The form merges animal traits, challenging conventional representation. It's part pig, part fish, and wholly imaginative. Who decided on this unusual merging of animal forms and what does that say about their understanding of the natural world? Was it a child or an adult? The vibrant green glaze, a departure from the pig’s natural color, infuses the bank with an element of fantasy. Such objects often serve dual purposes, acting as both utilitarian items and reflections of cultural values. Saving money becomes an act imbued with creativity, transforming a mundane task into an engagement with whimsy. This humble “Fish-Pig” invites us to reflect on the beauty of the unexpected and the transformative power of art in everyday life.