Monkey
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
On View: 19th Dynasty to Roman Period, Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Gallery, 3rd Floor
Originally this whimsical representation of a monkey had movable forepaws. The left is now gone; only the wooden peg that held it in place survives. The piece may have been used as a diversion by a nurse to amuse and entertain a very young child. A strikingly similar piece, no doubt by the same master craftsman, was found by the English archaeologist Howard Carter in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
MEDIUM
Ivory
DATES
ca. 1336–1327 B.C.E.
DYNASTY
late Dynasty 18
PERIOD
New Kingdom
DIMENSIONS
4 3/16 x 1 x 1 3/4 in. (10.7 x 2.5 x 4.4 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
55.176
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Ivory statuette of standing, hybrid monkey. Feet together, mouth open, right arm extended forward with open hand. Arms carved forward with open hand. Arms carved separately, and inserted with wooden pegs. The figure has some human and some simian features and so does not reproduce any member of the ape family. Use uncertain, possibly a toy, possibly a decorative piece.
Condition: Left arm lost (wooden insertion peg remains). Tail broken. Feet broken and repaired.
CAPTION
Monkey, ca. 1336–1327 B.C.E. Ivory, 4 3/16 x 1 x 1 3/4 in. (10.7 x 2.5 x 4.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 55.176. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 55.176_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
front, 55.176_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2015
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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Can you tell me a little bit about this?
This image of a hybrid monkey was likely used to entertain a very young child. Essentially it is a toy, as you might be able to tell from the moveable arms.
