Antique Hubley Cast Iron Saluting Sailor Oarsman Still Penny Bank C. 1910-1915

Details

Description

This authentic antique American cast iron still penny bank depicts a saluting U.S. Navy sailor (or oarsman) holding an oar … Read more This authentic antique American cast iron still penny bank depicts a saluting U.S. Navy sailor (or oarsman) holding an oar at his left side while saluting with his right hand. Manufactured by the Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, circa 1910–1915. The figure features cold-painted details over its two-piece molded body, including a white dress uniform, blue neckerchief/sailor collar, blue hat band, dark hair, and subtle facial features. A horizontal coin slot is located on the back upper shoulder area below the collar, held together with a single recessed slotted iron machine screw.

Manufacturer: Hubley Manufacturing Company (Lancaster, PA)

Item: Saluting Sailor / Oarsman Still Bank

Circa/Age: c. 1910–1915

Material: Heavy Cast Iron (2-piece mold assembly)

Dimensions: Approx. 5.5" Height x 2.5" Width

Weight: 473 grams (approx. 1 lb 0.7 oz)

Authenticity Assessment This piece displays key physical markers of early 20th-century Hubley casting. The mold seams along the sides and head are exceptionally tight, crisp, and flush, exhibiting hand-filed seam edges characteristic of genuine period manufacture rather than modern recast lines. The interior grain of the iron and bottom foot pads exhibit authentic granular texture with genuine historical oxidation. The cold paint shows natural microscopic micro-crazing and edge wear around high-contact areas (hat brim, shoulder, oar tip) consistent with genuine handling, rather than uniform modern distressing or chemical artificial aging.

Reference
Book Title: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks
Author: Andy & Susan Moore
Reference Note: Listed and illustrated as the Hubley "Saluting Sailor / Oarsman" Still Bank (c. 1910–1915).

Historical Provenance & Design Significance: Produced during the golden age of American decorative ironwork by the renowned Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, PA, this saluting oarsman exemplifies early 20th-century Americana and nautical folk motifs. Its stylized uniform and graphic two-tone palette offer a strong graphic profile.

Curator’s Note: A charming piece of turn-of-the-century Americana. With its crisp figurative silhouette and aged patina, this antique cast iron sailor functions beautifully as a sculptural bookend, mantle accent, or curated shelf vignette for classic coastal, traditional, or eclectic library interiors. See less