“Don’t make a monkey out of me”

The cute thumb-sucking plush monkey called Monchhichi was created by the Japanese Sekiguchi Corporation in 1974. The doll came in male and female form with a wide range of clothing and accessories available. Other characters included two Grandparents, a Policeman, a Guardsman, and the “Friends of” series such as Kitty-boo the cat, Hoppy-boo the rabbit, Larry-boo the lamb and Honey-boo the bear.

In the UK and US the doll was renamed Chic-a-boo. In France as Kiki, in Italy Mon Cicci, in Denmark Mon Chhichi then later Bølle, in Hungary Moncsicsi, and in Spain as Virkiki. As well as dolls, Monchhichi also appeared in a number of TV series, music recordings, and household items, including a range of special pencil toppers given away in French washing powder packs – which we will take a look at later in this post.

Denmark. Note here the doll is named ‘Mon Chhici’, a difficult pronounciation for many Danish kids. The name was later changed to Bølle.

Denmark. Bølle.

US. FAO Schwarz catalogue 1980/1981

US. FAO Schwarz catalogue 1980/1981

Speelboom N°5. 1988. Netherlands.

KIKI Pencil Toppers

Kiki pencil toppers that were given away free with Bonux washing powder in the eighties

Kiki: bright colours, costumes galore and interesting accessories from surfboards to puppies to a fish!

Who’s your favourite Kiki?

KIKI 45 RPM record

La chanson de Kiki, 45 RPM record, 1978

Do you recognise any of these Kikis? Back cover of record sleeve shows some of the Kiki dolls available at the time.

“C’est mon Kiki!”

1981 advert for the record

France. Pif Gadget. 1981.

That’s all for now vintage monkey fans, thanks for looking 🙂

Post updated September 2018 with new images.