Piggy Bank
Unknown Artist
15th century
Medium
Terracotta
Dimensions
H. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm); W. 8 1/4 in. (21); L. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm)
Classification
Sculpture
Culture & Period
Indonesia (Java) · Eastern Javanese period
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1990
Accession Number
1990.179
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian collection, this charming terracotta *Piggy Bank* from15th-century Java offers a delightful glimpse into everyday life during the Eastern Javanese period. Crafted by an unknown artist, the sculpture measures 10¾ inches high, 8¼ inches wide, and 15½ inches long, its plump, pig-shaped form rendered in earthy red clay. Terracotta, a fired clay medium prized for its durability and accessibility, was widely used in Java for both ceremonial and utilitarian objects, allowing artisans to capture lifelike details through hand-modeling and simple incisin...