Bidspirit auction | Lion and Monkeys - Cast

Lion and Monkeys - Cast Iron Mechanical Bank - Made by the Kyser & Rex Company. Frankford, Pennsylvania - Mid 1880's. For their Lion and Monkeys bank, Kyser & Rex have coupled strong narrative elements with exciting vibrant color. We find two monkeys (mother and baby) that have hastily scampered up the trunk of a tree, presumably to escape the powerful jaws of the lion. The ”king of beasts” is painted a mellow shade of tan and he is outfitted with a pair of dark orange glass eyes, perhaps meant to intensify his ferociousness. The expanse of green grass below his body is dotted with bright patches of yellow and red highlighting, a trademark feature in the work of Kyser & Rex. In actuality, the lion is not such a bad guy; he merely wants the monkeys to toss him pennies to satisfy his great hunger. This is a truly exceptional example of this great toy bank. Condition: Near Mint Condition.