1890’s Ives Missing Link Clockwork Dancing Monkey

This great Ives cloth-covered, dancing monkey with red fez hat is in very good condition. The winding mechanism in the box is very strong and when tested worked well. 

Occasionally, because of the weight of the monkey, you  have to pull up and down on the metal rod holding the monkey to get the dancing started once the spring is wound with the key. 

Do not overwind the device. The wood box has a few scratches or marks and it appears the stain has never been retouched. This toy should not be overlooked since so few classic working Ives toys survive today. The Ives Manufacturing Company produced toys in Connecticut from 1868 to 1932. The toy is around 7” in length,  4” in width, and the bottom base to top of the monkey’s fez is approximately 9”.