-Roly-Poly Monkey- still bank c. 1930

This "Roly-Poly Monkey" still bank, was made by J. Chein & Company. I'm not sure exactly when but I'm imagining it would have been a time when painted tin toys were all the rage. Imagine someone in a factory, carefully applying layers of lithography to the metal, each pass bringing the monkey to life, with its goofy smile, and bright, circus-like colors. I'm thinking of all the hands that touched it, bending the metal, painting it with care. The stripes and cheerful oranges, yellows, and whites must have brightened up the place. The monkey’s face is so expressive, like a little clown. How did the artist capture that mix of mischief and joy? And those stripes, rhythmic and bold, like a pattern from a Stuart Davis painting. It’s fun to imagine it sitting in someone’s home, holding coins, full of naive charm. There’s something universal about this toy—a connection to the playful spirit in all of us. The conversations between artists echo across time!