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Salvator Mundi Museum of Art Acquires Peculiar Mechanical Bank Linked to Da Vinci’s Masterpiece | VIDEO
The Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is thrilled to announce its recent acquisition of a never-before-seen mechanical metal bank linked to the iconic Salvator Mundi painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. The painting made global headlines in 2017 by becoming the world’s most expensive artwork when it sold at auction for a staggering $450 million. The extraordinarily novel mechanical bank gained public attention when it surfaced and was acquired at this year’s Ponchatoula Antique Trade Day flea market, as reported by local Louisiana press outlets in early April.
Upon realizing its potential significance, the original Ponchatoula buyer reached out to several antique experts and art institutions specializing in the area, including the Salvator Mundi Museum, seeking assistance in unraveling the object’s origins.
Although initial research was inconclusive, the speculation and intrigue surrounding the item’s history and creation—ranging from a contemporary artist’s clever April Fool’s joke to a rare da Vinci original—has added an intriguing new layer to the legacy of the Renaissance genius known for his groundbreaking inventions centuries ahead of his time.
Resembling the antique mechanical banks commonly found from 1870 to around 1910, the enigmatic bank features a unique mechanism. Placing a coin in the figure’s left palm and pressing the lever at the back causes Jesus’s right arm to make a blessing motion as the coin drops into the bank’s base. It is unknown whether religious commentary was intended.
Dabora Choi, Director of Curatorial Affairs for the Salvator Mundi Museum, expressed immediate interest in this unique discovery. “We are exceptionally fortunate and honored to add the Salvator Mundi mechanical bank to our collection. Regardless of its ultimate origin, it stands as a testament to human ingenuity and artistic innovation,” said Choi.
The Museum plans to unveil this captivating historical object in an upcoming summer exhibition, celebrating its connection to the world-renowned Salvator Mundi painting.
In conjunction with this acquisition, the Museum is delighted to announce the production of a limited edition of working bronze copies of the mechanical bank. These meticulously crafted renditions, numbered and authorized by the Museum as official items of the Salvator Mundi® brand, will be available for purchase by discerning art collectors and patrons.
About Salvator Mundi Museum of Art: Taking its name from the world’s most expensive work of art, the purported lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, the Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is dedicated to exploring every facet, implication, and historical context of the Salvator Mundi narrative and art history.
The museum houses one of the largest private collections of art and ephemera surrounding the Salvator Mundi story and regularly mounts exhibitions on a wide variety of related subjects. The Salvator Mundi Museum of Art is also a component of the Real Salvator Mundi contemporary art project, established in 2017. The Salvator Mundi continues to be a subject of immense interest, intrigue, mystery, and debate. However, there is only one Real Salvator Mundi®.
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