Quon-Quon "Once Upon a Time" Old Woman in a Shoe Bank, 1983
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A nursery rhyme coin bank from a Los Angeles gift importer
This 1983 Quon-Quon "Once Upon a Time" bank shows the nursery rhyme "There was an old woman who lived in a shoe." The shoe is a laced boot turned into a cottage, with a shingled roof and chimney on top, shuttered windows and a little door, and the Old Woman with her many children molded around the base.
Quon-Quon was founded by Albert Toy Quon, who started the business in Peking around 1929 and moved its headquarters to Los Angeles in 1937. The company supplied baskets, ceramics and gift items to national chain and department stores, and Albert retired in 1976.
"Once Upon a Time" was a 1982 to 1983 Quon-Quon line of nursery rhyme ceramics made in Japan. The line included mugs, cups and saucers, figurines and music boxes for rhymes like Little Red Riding Hood, Humpty Dumpty and Sing a Song of Sixpence. The same Old Woman design was also made as a music box.
Company history from the Quon family's biography of Albert Toy Quon (quonquon.com). Series and other pieces from eBay, Ruby Lane, eCrater and WorthPoint listings. Marks and condition from the owner's photos.
A cream ceramic boot house with a shingled roof, the Old Woman and her children
The Quon-Quon Old Woman in a Shoe bank is a glazed cream ceramic boot about the size of a large mug, built up into a cottage. The top of the boot has a tan shingled roof and a square brick chimney, the sides have arched shuttered windows, and a small door with its own roof sits at the heel. The Old Woman in a blue bonnet, pink dress and orange shawl stands at the heel with a basket, and a row of eight small children runs along the side. Another child climbs the toe and one peeks over the laces.
A cream ceramic shoe house bank with a brown roof and a line of children, marked Quon-Quon Japan 1983, is this piece.
- Body: a laced boot in cream glaze (an off-white, slightly yellow) with stitching dots along the welt.
- Roof: tan to caramel shingles in rounded rows, with a square brick chimney rising behind.
- Windows and door: arched windows with brown shutters on both sides, and a small plank door with a peaked roof at the heel.
- Old Woman: blue bonnet, orange shawl, pink dress and a brown basket, waving from the heel.
- Children: a row of eight in pink, blue and lavender along one side, a boy in blue climbing the toe, and a sleeping child on the instep.
- Coin slot: a wide slot in the back gable under the roof.
- Base: unglazed rim with the printed black backstamp and a round white plastic stopper marked MADE IN CHINA.
- This copy: a few small glaze chips on the roof edges and the little door roof, and gray wear on the unglazed foot rim.
"Once Upon a Time" (c) 1983 QUON-QUON OLD WOMAN JAPAN MADE IN CHINA (stopper)Printed in black on the base. MADE IN CHINA is molded into the plastic stopper, which may be a later replacement.
- Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe bank
- Quon Quon shoe house piggy bank
- Once Upon a Time shoe bank 1983
- Nursery rhyme ceramic boot bank Japan
Every listing we've found, ranked by delivered price
Two listings of this design found, checked October 2026. The same Old Woman design was also sold as a music box.
| Seller | Condition | Price | Shipping | Delivered | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy seller | Old Woman coin bank, 1983 | Not shown | Not shown | See listinglisting ended | Ended Seen Oct 2026 | View ↗ |
| Online marketplace (WorthPoint) | Music box version, about 6 inches, one chip on a child's foot | Not shown | Not shown | See recordprice behind login | Sold Date not shown | View ↗ |
| Owner's copy | Used. Small glaze chips on the roof edges and the little door roof, gray wear on the foot rim. | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not for sale yet |
About the Quon-Quon Old Woman bank
How old is the Quon-Quon Old Woman bank?
It is dated 1983 on the base, and the Once Upon a Time line ran from about 1982 to 1983.
Who made it?
Quon-Quon, a Los Angeles importer founded by Albert Toy Quon that supplied ceramics and gifts to chain and department stores. The bank itself was made in Japan.
Why does the stopper say Made in China?
The ceramic bank says Japan, but the plastic stopper is marked China. Stoppers were often made separately, and some are later replacements.
Is there a music box version?
Yes. The same Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe design was sold as a music box that plays a tune of the same name.
What is it worth?
Only a couple of listings were found, without prices showing, so there isn't enough data to set a value yet.