Piggy Bank money box - Italy Ceramic - 10cms nose to tail

An Italian Piggy bank, money box, with money.   I was always taught that you never give or sell a purse or money box to someone without money in it.   Now I dont know where this comes from but clearly an old tradition which I am carrying on.

Taken from Wiki:  –  These days the piggy bank is taken for granted — it’s a coin bank, shaped like a pig. Kids love them. But where did they really come from? Why do people around the world stuff loose change into small pink pigs?

The origin of piggy banks dates back nearly 600 years, in a time before real banks even existed. Before the creation of modern-style banking institutions, people commonly stored their money at home — not under the mattress (or hay rack), but in common kitchen jars. During The Middle Ages, metal was expensive and seldom used for household wares. Instead, dishes and pots were made of an economical orange-colored clay called pygg. Whenever folks could save an extra coin or two, they dropped it into one of their clay jars — a pygg pot.

Please note that there is a small repaired chip on one of the back feet.  No other problems noted.  It wont be noticed.  Italy is hand written under the glaze on this piggy’s tummy.     Feel free to ask any questions.