Bidspirit auction | Mikado - Cast Iron Mechanical

Mikado - Cast Iron Mechanical Bank - Red Desk & Blue Costume. Made by the Kyser & Rex Company. Frankford, Pennsylvania - Late 1880's. Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operetta ”The Mikado” met with huge fanfare and critical acclaim at its London première in 1885. Within a year, dozens of American touring companies were also performing the Mikado to rave reviews. The opera, which is set in the fictional Japanese locale of Titipu, satirizes a group of self-important political figures, most notably the Mikado and Ko-Ko the Lord High Executioner. In creating their Mikado Bank, Kyser & Rex was clearly pandering to a public that had become wildly engaged by all things Japanese. The bank presents the Mikado seated at his desk. He is depicted as a mysterious conjurer, one who can make your coins magically disappear. He is shown in a costume that actually seems more Chinese than Japanese, nevertheless, it underscores his persona as an exotic foreigner. Another illustration of Asian influence in the bank's composition can be found in the flattened out minimalist pictographs of birds and dragons that decorate the front and sides of his desk. As the bank is played with, the Mikado lifts up and lowers his arms in sequence. Children could watch with bated breath, as coins moved from beneath his right hand to beneath his left hand, ultimately, disappearing altogether. This specimen of the Mikado Bank is extremely fine condition. It was in the collection of Gertrude Hegarty, a pioneering hobbyist known for her relentless pursuit of perfection. It will make an extraordinary addition to any collection. The top 3/8” of the red hat and two tiny spots of red on the right side panel have been inpainted many years ago, but are unnoticeable to the naked eye. Condition: Pristine Condition. Very tiny old touch up to hat.