Monkey or Chimp Nurse Bank Figure: Antique?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by dude, Nov 6, 2022.

  1. dude

    dude Well-Known Member

    Hi,

    I picked this up recently. It was only a few bucks, but the laugh the cashier had in the thrift store when ringing it up was priceless.

    I found items like this online but with different details and not with the coin slot on the back. It appears to be of mold construction and of plaster or resin.

    I'm wondering if you all think it's homemade and old and if someone can explain why banks were made with no openings to retrieve the coins (decorative?)?

    Thanks in advance for any replies.

    20221106_144714.jpg 20221106_144937.jpg 20221106_144835.jpg 20221106_144735.jpg
     
    bercrystal likes this.
  2. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    I think banks were made with no way to get the money out because they wanted people to smash them open when full. Back in the day, I guess no one thought these sort of things would be decor or collecible.
    I can't think of any other reason really.. I have found vintage banks with rubber stoppers as well as banks with no way to get the money out unless you hit it with a hammer.
    BWDIK
     
    kyratango and dude like this.
  3. bercrystal

    bercrystal Well-Known Member

  4. dude

    dude Well-Known Member

    Silly me--I should have thought about chalkware! I did find the one in that 2nd link before I posted. The anthropomorphic expressions of these primate pieces get me every time. The one in that link looks a bit clueless/dopey, or as if he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. Mine seems to have a doleful and exhausted expression, like a human nurse who attended to wartime patients around the clock, many of whom didn't make it. It just speaks of WWI or WWII to me.
     
    bercrystal and pearlsnblume like this.
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