Description:

United States, Connecticut, Cromwell, ca. 1875 CE. An ironical and cast6-iron mechanical bank made by J. & E. Stevens that was originally patented as "Little Fat Man Bank" and later as "Tammany Bank," which is marked on the chair’s sides, as an overt symbol of political corruption. The late 18th to 19th century Tammany Hall / Society of Tammany political organization known for its support for and backing by immigrants. However, by the mid-19th century Tammany was widely regarded as a political gang, profiting from their positions through a system of patronage and graft. This Boss Politician has a weighted arm mechanism, that works (although this antique needs a small push) the arm drops the coin into his pocket and the bobble head nods in appreciation of the contribution. There is a threaded screw in the base to easily retrieve the coins if you feel like the money is being misspent. Size: 3.5" L x 4.25" W x 5.75" H (8.9 cm x 10.8 cm x 14.6 cm)

Provenance: private Santa Barbara, California, USA collection

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#179609

  • Condition: Arm weight mechanism functions, but occasionally needs a small push, and the head bobbles. Chipping and losses to pigments. Overall excellent. Comes with pennies.

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July 14, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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