Clockwork drumming monkey made in China in the 1970s

The monkey, in a standing position, is metal covered with dark yellow nylon fur fabric; the clockwork mechanism is in the body and the key bar protrudes from the left side. The face and drum are of lithographed tin plate, in blue, yellow, red, green, white and black. The drum is marked to show cartoon characters imitating Disney figures such as Mickey Mouse. On the sides of the drum are four green plastic uprights, one of which is broken. The arms of the monkey are of coiled wire with wooden knobs for hands. Both the monkey and the drum sit on a brown plastic base which is poorly cast. When wound up, the monkey moves from side to side and beats the drum.

Given by Clio Whiattaker

References: This collection of toys was acquired by the donor while attending Peking University in 1978 and 1979. The majority of the toys were made in China for its own market.

See additional notes, B. 106-1996

Drumming animals are a popular subject for clockwork toys and many were produced in Japan and China between the 1950s and the 1970s. The drum of this toy features cartoon characters resembling Disney charactrers such as Mickey Mouse. However, these toys would not have been made under licence. When wound up the monkey moves from side to side and beats the drum. This toy was made in China probably for the local market rather than for export.

B.143-1996