We don’t actually know the artist’s name, but we know why he or she did it.

In medieval England, clay was known as “pygg.” People would usually put their coins in pygg dishes or jars when they came home. These were commonly referred to as “pygg banks.”

One English potter, around the year 1600, was asked to make several pygg banks. Unfamiliar with the term, he made several banks shaped like pigs, with slots in the back for the coins.

The customer was not disappointed and, in fact, ordered more for friends. The charming idea caught on and quickly spread through Europe.