Antique Hubley Cast Iron Puppo Dog Coin Bank & Miniature Figure Set Grace Drayton

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Description

Historical Provenance & Design Significance
Created in the 1920s by the Hubley Manufacturing Company, this rare pairing represents a quintessential … Read more Historical Provenance & Design Significance
Created in the 1920s by the Hubley Manufacturing Company, this rare pairing represents a quintessential example of American folk-art character ironware designed by illustrator Grace Gebbie Drayton. Drayton's whimsical aesthetic—characterized by wide, soulful eyes and chubby proportions—helped define early American pop illustration. Featuring the iconic "Puppo" hound adorned with a sculpted bee on its hip, this matched bank and miniature desk sculpture set showcases exceptional foundry casting and original cold-painted polychrome decoration.

Curator's Note
An exceptional decorative set for a library, executive desk, or mantle display. The dual-scale presentation of the 5" bank paired with its miniature paperweight companion offers a playful, sculptural focal point with incredible historic character and rich, aged patina.

This exceptional matched set features a 1920s Hubley cast iron "Puppo" (also known as the "Boston Terrier with Bee") still penny bank paired with its rare original miniature companion figure/paperweight. Designed by renowned early 20th-century illustrator Grace Gebbie Drayton (creator of the Campbell’s Kids and Dolly Dingle), this pair exhibits classic period styling with oversized expressive eyes, black eye patches, a pink bow tie at the neck, and an embossed honeybee landing on the right hindquarter.

The larger coin bank features two-piece vertical seam construction joined with a single original counter-sunk steel screw. It is distinctly embossed "DRAYTON" in raised capital lettering along the lower back base. The top coin slot is located cleanly across the upper back shoulders. The miniature companion figure replicates the exact proportions, pose, eye markings, and back bow tie of the larger bank in miniature scale.

Both pieces retain their original factory cold-painted finish over off-white/cream ground, complete with authentic age-related micro-crazing, paint wear, and untouched iron patina exposed along high points and base edges.

Manufacturer: Hubley Manufacturing Company (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Designer: Grace Gebbie Drayton (signed "DRAYTON" on main bank)
Item Type: Still Penny Bank & Miniature Paperweight / Novelty Figure Set
Era / Age: Circa 1920s (c. 1920–1928)
Material: Heavy Cast Iron
Dimensions:
Bank: ~5.0" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D
Miniature: ~1.75" H x 1.5" W x 1.25" D
Combined Weight: 2 lbs 1.4 oz

Reference
Book Title: The Penny Bank Book: Collecting Still Banks
Author: Andy Moore
Page / Reference: Page 81, Item #416 (Documenting Hubley's Grace Drayton "Puppo" / Boston Terrier with Bee still bank)

Authenticity Assessment
Both pieces exhibit clear, non-reproducible markers of period authenticity:

Seam Fit & Tooling: The two-piece casting seam on the main bank is exceptionally tight and smooth across all meeting points. The interior bottom reveals four distinct circular core-pin openings characteristic of vintage Hubley foundry moulding techniques.

Surface Texture & Cold Paint: The off-white paint demonstrates authentic decade-spanning age shrinkage, micro-crazing, and surface crackling.

Hardware: The joining screw is a flat-head steel screw with genuine historical oxidation.

Lettering & Relief: The embossed "DRAYTON" lettering on the bank and the high-relief bee motif are sharp and well-defined, unlike soft or degraded recast lines.

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