Collection Highlights
The Solitary Oak (The Old Oak)
1844
1858.75
Oil on canvas (relined)
Support the New-York Historical Society
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nation's history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually.
Museum Collections
Luce Center
Tammany Bank
Title
Tammany Bank
Object name
Mechanical bank
Date
ca. 1875
Medium
Iron, paint
Dimensions
Overall: 5 3/4 x 4 3/8 x 3 in. ( 14.6 x 11.1 x 7.6 cm )
Description
Cast iron mechanical bank in the form of man seated in chair with low arms and high bank; chair painted green with brown trim, with pierced decoration; man dressed in brown suit with yellow waistcoat, posed with one hand raised (with separate notch of metal to hold coin); cast inscription with fan motif on each side of chair; when coin is placed in figure's hand, the weight of the coin causes the hand to lower and deposit the coin into the pocket of the figure.
Credit Line
Purchased from Elie Nadelman
Object Number
1937.1237
Marks
Inscription: cast on each side of chair: "TAMMANY BANK [with fan motif at center]"
Mark: cast on back of chair, top: "PATD DEC 23 1873"
Gallery Label
This mechanical bank is said to represent Boss Tweed, the notorious Tammany Hall leader, pocketing illicit money. The Tammany Bank is based on Patent No. 145,734, issued to John Hall on Dec. 23, 1873.
Provenance