Pokemon Tomy Keychains: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

These two key chain figurines depicting characters from the Pokémon video game franchise, manufactured by the Japanese toy company Tomy. The two characters represented are Arbok (#24), which resembles a purple cobra, and Primeape (#57). The Primeape character, whose official images resemble a beige monkey like character with no tail, is stunted and more rounded than usually depicted. There is also a round impression underneath the Primeape figurine which was likely used for mounting purposes. Both keychains have a series of small links connected to their heads and a large keyring on the opposite end.

Materials, dates and provenance

• maker: TOMY
• Object Name: toy keychain
• Physical Description: plastic (overall material)
• Physical Description: metal (overall material)
• Measurements: arbok figurine: 1 13/32 in x 1 in x 13/16 in; 3.556 cm x 2.54 cm x 2.032 cm
• Measurements: primeape figurine: 3/4 in x 1 3/32 in x 3/4 in; 1.905 cm x 2.794 cm x 1.905 cm
• place made: China
• ID Number: 2016.3016.45
• catalog number: 2016.3016.45
• nonaccession number: 2016.3016
• Credit Line: Judy Gradwohl
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.