Monkey
Unknown Artist
possibly 1700s
Medium
wood
Dimensions
h. 55.3 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Dudley P. Allen Fund
Accession Number
1924.350
About this artwork
Watching monkeys perform was once a popular form of street entertainment in Japan. Monkeys were outfitted with costumes and learned to perform dances and tricks. Monkeys also serve as the messengers of certain kami, or deities, and pairs of clothed monkey sculptures in wood or stone may be found on either side of the entrance of some jinja, or shrines dedicated to kami. This monkey has a jacket and may have once held bells and a fan. Unfortunately, its original identity and purpose have been los...