Bidspirit auction | Organ Grinder and Dancing Bear

Organ Grinder and Dancing Bear - Made by the Kyser and Rex Company. Frankford, Pennsylvania - Late 1880's. Two boys poke their heads above the fence to get a free preview of the trained bear show. On the surface, the bank's imagery seems innocuous, however, to the contrary, it actually draws from a very tragic American narrative, the Civil War. Careful examination reveals that the organ grinder is a maimed Confederate Army veteran. He stands beside his plantation shown in reduced financial circumstances, forced to scramble to provide for his family. Though the events of the Civil War were long over, this bank reminds us that the socioeconomic impact on its participants had lingering devastating effects for decades afterwards. Condition: Pristine Condition.