Java, Majapahit Dynasty / 1300s–1400s
Piggy Bank
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Piggy Bank as sculpture (Java, Majapahit Dynasty · 1300s–1400s).
The word for piggy bank in Eastern Java is tjèlèngan , meaning ‘wild boar.’
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this sculpture as terracotta.
The museum's collection notes: Do I look familiar to you? My round and exaggerated form makes me perfect for storing precious coins, which could be inserted through the slot (now closed) on the hump of my back. My fierce expression is a warning to scare off any burglars, and the padlock and chain around my neck indicate my function as a personal bank. Yes, I am a piggy bank—a lucky one that has survived intact for over 500 years! Usually we end up broken by people who want our coins.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtPiggy BankOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.