Antiques, Curios, Collectables. Tin toys, Musical instruments, Ephemera, Bronze
Lot 36:
Description
This lot consists of two vintage mechanical toys. The first is a clockwork walking monkey figure, attributed to Japanese manufacture in the style of Nomura (TN) or Alps. The figure features a plush-covered body with a moulded plastic face and blue-painted tinplate feet. It is dressed in a tan fabric waistcoat with a black bow tie and dark trousers, and holds a small metal shaker. A fixed metal winding key is located on the right-hand side. The second item is a mechanical novelty bank known as a Skeleton in a Coffin. This example is a Chinese-manufactured version of a classic mid-century design. The box is made from lithographed tinplate and houses a plastic skeleton mechanism operated by a yellow plastic winding key. The side of the box is printed with the text You can’t take it with you – but you can try and bears a Made in China mark. The coin trigger button is encircled by text reading United States of America 1859. A separate piece of black fabric is included.
Monkey height: approximately 8.5 inches
Bank length: approximately 6.25 inches.
Condition report:
The monkey figure shows significant signs of age and play wear, including staining, fraying, and small holes to the fabric clothing. The plush exterior has accumulated dust and there is minor paint loss to the tinplate feet. The mechanical bank displays heavy scuffing, scratches, and significant paint loss across the lithographed tinplate surfaces. The plastic internal components appear intact. Mechanisms have not been tested for operational functionality.
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