Bitossi Style Mid Century Ceramic Chicken Piggy Bank Appraisal

Bitossi-Style Mid-Century Ceramic Chicken Piggy Bank

This item is a vintage ceramic coin bank shaped like a stylized chicken or hen, measuring approximately 6 to 8 inches in length. It is constructed from a heavy earthenware clay with a distinctive impressed or incised decorative pattern. The color palette features a dominant olive or moss green glaze, accented by bands and sections of muted purple, blue, and yellow ochre. The design displays a mid-century modern aesthetic, characterized by geometric patterns—specifically a series of square and circular indentations around the neck and tail—reminiscent of the Rimini Blu series by Bitossi Ceramiche. The wings are rendered with a cross-hatched, scale-like pattern in purple. A horizontal coin slot is located on the upper back of the bird. The overall condition appears used but stable; there is visible surface wear, including small nicks and scratches in the matte glaze, particularly on the top and beak. A slight patina of dust or residue is present in the recessed areas of the pattern. While no specific maker’s mark is visible from this angle, the style strongly suggests 1960s-1970s Italian production. The craftsmanship shows a high level of detail in the hand-finished incised elements, which gives the piece a tactile, artisanal quality.