The Monkey Seas

Why, Shoe Nuff!

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-10:00

If the shoe fits, wear it.

This shoe looks just a wee bit too large for this monkey, but does it care? Nope. S/he's going to wear it anyway. Seeing as how it's a baby's shoe, the monkey sure must be a tiny one.

Pretty cute though, huh? It's a 1950s piece, created from white ceramic and gold trimmed.

Salute!

Amber Drummer

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-10:00

Delivered to me in a gold jewelry pouch from his maker in Hong Kong, this nicely hand-crafted amber monkey is heavy for its size.

The amber is synthetic, but it doesn't detract from the beauty, especially when the light shines on its deep maple-syrupy color.

I wonder what he's thinking as he hugs his drum? Composing a taiko presentation, perhaps? Maybe. Who knows for sure!

Dorky Doofus

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-10:00

Created by the open fire (torch) technique, monkeys such as this dorky-looking guy are as detailed or plain as the glass-blower wants them to be.

This one at least has been given distinctive eyes and a brighter-yellow muzzle (not to mention an extraordinarily long left arm).

I kind of like the little fellow. He just sits there on my monkey shelf staring with his slightly lopsided eyes in whatever direction I point him. Plus, I think his golden color is quite distinctive.

Tummy Sparkle

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-10:00

One day, while wandering around a creative gift shop in Tennessee, I came upon this cute little toy - a sort of globe-tummy version of the famous and popular sock monkey.

There's a little battery that fits in the base, and when turned on, the liquid in his tummy glows different colors, setting the teeny metallic flakes a-tumble in a rainbow of hues.

Other than that, he doesn't do much else. But at least he does THAT, which is more than most of the monkeys in my figurine collection do. So look THAT up in your Funk & Wagnalls.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-10:00

Although today is New Year's Eve, it's not exactly New Year's Eve in the Asian/Oriental/ Chinese Zodiac. Nevertheless, this multi-colored monkey wants to wish all of you a Happy New Year.

This flamboyant fellow is ceramic, and made his way into my collection from China. The creator signed the bottom with his chop, then packaged him in a red brocade gift box.

I found him on eBay.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-10:00

Hanging from my Christmas tree by his tail, this little fella's message is quite clear: Merry Christmas, he says to each and every one of you.

As I'm sure you've surmised by the writing he's carrying, it was a present to me from a wonderful friend last Christmas. Now, wasn't that sweet of her?

MERRY CHRISTMAS to one and all!

George and Bunny

2011-12-19T08:00:00.000-10:00

What in the world is Curious George doing holding on to a white rabbit? Do you think perhaps he's confused and thinks he's in an episode of Alice in Wonderland?

He might indeed be confused. After all, he's a Christmas ornament here, and aren't rabbits associated with Easter?

And, although he is always identified as a monkey (including in the books), he has no tail. Which would more likely make him a chimpanzee. But he doesn't look like a chimpanzee!

So, perhaps he lost his tail during one of his adventures. We'll never know. I'll just take the word of authors Hans and Margaret Rey, wink, and continue to call him a monkey.

Curious George on the Ball

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-10:00

Here he is again, your favorite monkey and mine ... Curious George!

He's a well-balanced little guy, that he is, able to balance on a ball with just one foot while dangling from a Christmas tree.

Did you know that Curious George has been around since 1939? Since the book first came out, his stories have been translated into several languages.

And did you know that his original name was ... (get this) ... Fifi? Yep, that it was.

Crystal Family

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000-10:00

She's got her hands full, this monkey mama does. Four little kiddy monkeys prancing all around. One is enough to drive a mother wild, and here she is with four of them!

They've been created in Thailand of hand-blown glass crystal, and are quite interesting and well done.

So ... as rambunctious as little children can be, I guess they can't put anything over her because she can see right through them! (Groaning at the pun.)

A Brassy Fellow

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-10:00

Despite what you may think, this monkey is not made of brass. The brassy color has been applied after casting. He's made of a composite material.

Alas, that's too bad, for when I first saw him on the shelf in a Las Vegas Chinatown store, I really thought he might be metal of some sort. Ah well, what the heck, huh?

Actually, I should have known better. When things are made in China, they often aren't what they appear to be.

Oh, My Goodness!

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-10:00

This boxwood monkey appears to be appalled at something. I like the way he's holding his head in his hands, as if to say, "Oh, my goodness! You can't be serious!"

Designed and hand-carved in Hong Kong, he's a modern-day netsuke, likely a reproduction of an ancient design. Or, he might be a new creation.

At any rate, someone on eBay put him up for sale and I bought him.

Golden Miniature

2011-11-19T10:17:00.000-10:00

When I first saw this glass figurine, I wondered what the heck it was doing.

He may be dancing. But how can that be? Look at how his legs are bent. He may be exercising. But I've never seen a monkey exercise like that, or even in any other position.

Ah, I've got it. He's testing to see if his deodorant is working. Yeah that's it!

Lomonosov Peach Monkey

2011-11-13T08:00:00.000-10:00

Created by the Lomonosov imperial porcelain factory in St. Petersburg, Russia, this beautiful monkey alludes to the famous Monkey and the Peach folk tale.

Founded in 1744 by decree of Empress Elisabeth (Peter the Great's daughter), the factory was the first and oldest of its kind in Russia. Throughout its history, the factory has made essential contributions to world culture.

The figurine received the Lomonosove Procelain Factory's "LFZ" mark on its bottom.

Happy in Fur

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-10:00

These little triplets are happy in fur, sitting in that planter (or is it a bathtub?) with their arms folded and their faces beaming with infectuous smiles.

I wonder what they're looking at. Hmmm, when I have them on my desk, they appear to be looking up at me. And yet when they're all along there on the monkey shelf, I could swear they're either singing a capella or seeking help from the heavens.

They come from Japan.

Aventurine Jade

2011-11-01T08:00:00.000-10:00

I'd never heard of "Aventurine Jade" until I saw this monkey figurine on the bidding block at eBay.

As it turns out, it's not really jade, but quartz. The glistening effect is called aventuresence, which is due to the presence of mineral inclusions.

The word "aventurine" comes from the Italian a ventura ("by chance"), reflecting its lucky discovery in the 18th Century. The green variety (it also comes in cream, gray, or orange), comes mostly from India.

This one came to me from Hong Kong.

Royal Dux

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-10:00

This stylistic monkey came to me from a collector in Great Britain who was selling it on eBay. Included in the box was a little note telling me how sad he was to part with it, but he had to sell his collection due to his age.

I wrote him an email thanking him for putting it on the market.

On the bottom of the monkey's feet is a triangular label saying the piece was made by Royal Dux in Bohemia.

Beautiful Eyes, Pink Peach

2011-10-15T08:00:00.000-10:00

What beautiful eyes, this monkey figurine has - a true work of art by a creative Japanese artist who sure does know how to instill soul and personality into a small piece of porcelain.

And just look at the subtle pink coloring of the peach he's holding.

This Japanese monkey alludes to the Chinese legend of Buddha's confrontation with a curious monkey that had been devouring the peaches in his garden. He challenged the monkey to find the edge of the world, and if he did, he could have all the peaches in Buddha's garden.

The monkey tried, but couldn't even make it off of Buddha's land. Chastised and ashamed, the monkey agreed to behave better. But he still retains his curiosity.

Green Eyebrows

2011-10-09T08:00:00.000-10:00

This fellow is what the previous owner called a “Chinese characteristicfigurine.”

I’m sure the Chinese characters on the base say something importanteither about who he is, or what he represents, but that’s going to have toremain a mystery, at least for now.

I’ll say one thing … that guy sure is gaudy – red and bluehair, green eyebrows, red hands, colorful clothes … and he sure isn’t lettinggo of that peach, is he?

He’s made of ceramic and is perched on a wooden base.

Curious George Ornament

2011-10-03T08:00:00.000-10:00

Nearly everybody who's been a child knows Curious George, who's been the star of his own books, movies and websites.

Here he is, striking a delicate one-legged balance on a circus ball, hoping that someone will hang him on a Christmas tree to enjoy all season long.

It's really not fair to stuff him away in a decorations box and take him out only during Christmas, so I thought I'd let him hang around out here for as long as he wants.

I'm sure that makes him happy.

The Traveler

2011-09-27T08:00:00.000-10:00

He looks like he's just starting out on a journey, carrying his two little children in a basket on his back.

How do I know he's just starting out? Well, look how fresh he is. I can only imagine how bedraggled and hot and tired he'll look at the end of the day. Maybe they'll stop by a cool, babbling brook and freshen up along the way.

This is a modern netsuke hand-carved in Hong Kong from ebony ironwood. I got it for a song on eBay.

Banana Pinky

2011-09-21T08:00:00.000-10:00

She's quite a gal, this little pink monkey is. Not only is she crazy for me (or you), she's also offering me (or you) one of her beautiful ripe bananas.

Now tell me, has a monkey ever done that for you? More likely than not, any monkey who comes close to a banana will grab it, zip up a tree and eat it. No sharing.

This ceramic sweetheart was made by Russ Berrie & Company, which also makes plush toys.

Target Eyes

2011-09-15T11:11:00.003-10:00

It would be poetic to say that I got this jasper monkey froma Target store, given the appearance of his eyes. Unfortunately, I’m not apoet. I got him on eBay.

At first glance, he looks rather plain. But on closerinspection, you can see the subtle shading and body lines that transform himfrom just another “squatting monkey with hands on knees” figurine to one that’sgot a bit of personality.

Jasper is an opaque chalcedony mineral, by the way, and Ithink that’s a good name for this guy … Jasper. No matter that he’s from HongKong. He’s still Jasper to me.

I Got Your Back

2011-09-09T11:29:00.000-10:00

Like the legendary two-faced Janus, these two monkeys are checking out the scene in two directions at the same time, watching out for each other's back.

Designed and handcarved out of boxwood in China, they are a nice example of modern netsuke folk art.

Hmmm, somehow they both seem to be on the shy side. The one on the left seems too shy to turn around and look at us, and the one on the right has his hands in the "fig leaf" position.

Grease Monkey

2011-09-03T13:42:00.000-10:00

He can fix anything you have, as long as it’s miniaturemonkey sized, but he’s especially good at changing tires.

He was made by Peter Figuren of Austria and this greasemonkey came to me via eBay and Lord knows where he’s been before finding a homeon my monkey shelf. I mean, just take a look at his wobbly legs.

(But at least his shoes are nice and polished, and his denimwork clothes are clean.)

Don't you just love his red bowtie? Service station workers used to dress like this a long time ago.

Russkie Glasskie

2011-08-28T10:20:00.004-10:00

I have several blown-glass monkeys created by Russian artisans, and this was one of my most recent acquisitions.

She’s goldenly transparent, but with white front paws and a white muzzle highlighted by a slash of red lips. And, she’s holding a white flower.

Her tail is pointed straight up behind her, which makes it amazing that she can stand up on her own without her tail completing a triangular surface contact.

Well-balanced lass … that she is.

Love Pacifies

2011-08-17T10:46:00.000-10:00

Awww, ain’t she cute? This darling girlie monkey is from Enesco’s Precious Moments collection. She was issued in 1991 to Birthday Club Members only.

No, I don’t belong to the Birthday Club, but the person who put it up for sale on eBay must have been. Or, s/he might have bought it from someone else or received it as a gift.

Who knows? Who cares? The only important thing is that the cute monkey is now on MY monkey shelf.

And no, that’s not a banana in her hand. It’s a pacifier.

On a Basket

2011-08-11T11:33:00.000-10:00

Somebody went to a lot of work creating this money out of bone. Carving this piece took some talent. It’s not as intricately done like some of the old Japanese netsuke I’ve seen, but it’s a fine little figurine nevertheless.

He’s got a happy smile on his face. Maybe it’s because the peach he’s holding in his hand is filling his senses with a sweet and juicy aroma.

Maybe it’s because he’s comfortable sitting on his woven basket.

I think it’s because he’s got something pleasant on his mind. But I have no idea what it is.

A Couple of Big Mouths

2011-08-04T11:21:00.002-10:00

They’ve got the mouths for it. For what? Why, to hold whatever you want them to, of course. These two big-mouthed monkeys were gifts to me at different times by a very good friend from Tennessee.

First she gave me the all-white one, with a box of large golden-colored paper clips. That one sat on my desk and fed me a clip whenever I needed one.

She gave me the brown on a year or so later. It’s a little more detailed and came with a nylon mesh dish scrubber. But I didn’t want to put him on the kitchen sink because he has a bit more personality than the white one. I thought he’d look better on my desk and the white one would look better in the kitchen (cleaner-looking and all that).

So I switched their mouth-goodies – the brown one now sits on my desk, and the white one is standing guard at the kitchen sink, ready to lend a hand … er, mouth … to whomever has dish-washing duties.

Wee Little Guy

2011-07-29T11:27:00.000-10:00

He's nearly as small as they come, only about an inch tall.

But what he lacks in stature, this little monkey figurine makes up in cuteness. Just look at those adorable eyes and that beautiful coloring of his fur.

Hey, how 'bout those painted toenails, huh? Hmmm, that makes me wonder ... is it a "he," or it it a "she"? What do you think?

Asian Thimble

2011-07-23T16:12:00.002-10:00

Every now and then, I find an unusual monkey for my collection. I have tagged this one “Thimble 7” for an obvious reason: It’s only the seventh monkey thimble I’ve found in all my years of collecting.

Made in Thailand of hand-painted ceramic, the thimble-figurine has a curious nature that has him gazing off into the distance that makes one wonder what he’s looking at that’s so interesting, or what he’s thinking about.

Maybe he’s just waiting for someone to stick a finger up his … oh, never mind. Forget I ever said that.

Old Man Monkey

2011-07-18T11:07:00.000-10:00

Carved out of stone, he just squats there looking like an old man. Hands folded over his knees, one foot folded over the other.

I can’t quite figure out what he’s thinking. The expression on his face isn’t angry, it isn’t dour, it isn’t disgusted … it’s just kinda blah. You know, like the Monday stares we sometimes get as we sit at the table with a cup of coffee?

It’s kind of mesmerizing, locking onto him face as he gazes over your right shoulder. One almost expects his eyes to shift toward you.

What? I Can’t Hear You

2011-07-14T11:11:00.000-10:00

Despite what you may think, this is not one of the “wise monkeys” trio. He’s been carved from natural light-brown Sinkiang jade nephrite and came to my monkey shelf from China, via eBay.

I have say he looks as though he’s averse to hearing whatever it is you want to say to him, with his hand clasped over his ear that way.

Or maybe he’s just holding his head in his hand because he’s distraught about something. Maybe somebody stole his stash of ripe bananas? Maybe he has an earache? Maybe he’s just leaning on his hand?

Hey! Maybe he’s a radio disk jockey like Gary Owens on TV’s Laugh-In and is doing that hand-over-ear thing Owens did so he could hear what he sounded like?

I dunno. Forget it.

Toothbrush Holder

2011-07-09T10:52:00.001-10:00

This little guy with the cute big eyes wants to be helpful in the bathroom, so he’s decided to hold a child’s toothbrush in his belly.

Suction cups on his back will help you stick him up on the wall, or perhaps the bathroom mirror. His belly opens up laterally, so the toothbrush can nestle within his tummy. The brush should dry out because Mr. Monkey has ventilation holes on his side.

He’s got a little tab under his feet to help you pull his tummy apart. Made of plastic, he should be unbreakable. He was made in Japan, and I bought him at an “As Seen on TV” shop.

Multicolored Netsuke

2011-07-03T11:44:00.001-10:00

It’s unusual to see a colored netsuke. Authentic netsuke (and the modern reproductions) simply use the medium’s natural color and don’t have embellishments.

This is a modern Chinese netsuke reproduction, however, and I guess that gives the creator an excuse to create one that is more appealing to the eyes (at least in the artist’s opinion).

It’s really not a bad-looking figurine. And it makes me wonder if the ancient Japanese would have appreciated its subtle coloring, or considered it too gaudy. After all, to the Japanese, less is more.

It’s hallmarked on the bottom with a Chinese ideograph.

Smooching Shakes

2011-06-27T10:37:00.002-10:00

The lips met first as this cute ceramic pair from Thailand reached out their arms for a hug. Oops! Guess they each tilted their faces the wrong way, huh?

But y’know, maybe that’s what they were aiming for in the first place. I know if I were the boy monkey, that would have been my plan all along.

One’s a salt shaker, the other’s a pepper shaker. Bet you a dollar to a doughnut that the pepper shaker is the girl!

I got them – and their base – on eBay.

Lomonosov Beauty

2011-06-21T09:47:00.002-10:00

This beauty was created at the Imperial Lomonosov porcelain factory, which was founded in 1744 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The factory was created by decree of Empress Elisabeth, daughter of Peter the Great.

The piece’s lines are smooth and flowing, its finish is beautifully sleek and glistening. In a word, it’s perfection, no? The Lomosov Porcelain Factory stamp, “LFZ” is impressed on the figurine's bottom.

Peachy and Nutty

2011-06-15T15:17:00.001-10:00

Here’s another monkey figurine carved out of a tagua nut, a seed that comes from the ivory nut palm (Phytelephas Aequatorialis), which grows in Ecuador.

When the semi-liquid nuts solidify in the hot sun for a few months, they harden and can be hand-carved, sometimes accented with inlaid wood, tagua shell powder, or coconut powder and shell. To change the color from ivory white to caramel, the carvings are deep fried briefly.

The trees used to be felled, but no more, since their nuts are now a regular source of income for the Ecuadorians.

This monkey comes with its own pedestal and is carrying a peach in the true Asian tradition.

Four-Legged Strut

2011-06-09T10:38:00.001-10:00

I guess you could say he’s strutting, ‘cause he’s got his head up and his tail sticking ‘way up toward the heavens.

Strutters don’t have to be walking on two feet, in my humble opinion. It’s all in the attitude. And this fellow has a good attitude. I love the way his tail curls at the tip.

He was created out of brown-amber glass by someone who knows pride and strutting – a Russian artist who made him using a hand-blown technique.

And then, I found him on eBay and the rest is history. He’s now sitting on my monkey shelf.

Snowflake

2011-06-03T11:33:00.000-10:00

He’s got a pretty catty look about it, but trust me, he’s a monkey. It’s the black markings in his eyes that give him that appearance.

Created out of snowflake obsidian, he looks as if he’d been tarred and feathered (or at least tarred and cotton-balled). Some might even say he looks like a black monkey with white fungus growing all over his body.

Mr. Snowflake was crafted in China (Hong Kong, to be specific) sometime in the past couple of years. Therefore, he’s not an antique … maybe in another 100 years. So I think I’ll keep him.

The Coconut Nut

2011-05-28T09:57:00.000-10:00

He's just kookoo for coconuts! (No, not Coco Puffs, coconuts.)

Then again, maybe those aren't coconuts? Hmmm, they look too green. Lemme take a closer look. Yep, you're right, they're more like a softer fruit. Like a melon or something.

Rats, and I thought I was being clever naming him a coconut nut. Oh well, I'll just leave it. It's too late anyway, it's on his birth certificate.

He was made in China out of resin, for the Summit Collection located in Arcadia, California.

Alma Little Teapot

2011-05-22T10:40:00.000-10:00

She's sitting inside a teapot. Well, not exactly. Her teapot doesn't hold tea. When you lift Alma's head up, you will find a small container nestled inside the pot that can hold a small item.

A ring, perhaps? Or maybe the morning pills.

It matters not. What does matter to me is that it's a monkey figurine item that's unusual. You don't find many of these on store shelves, do you? I got her following some spirited bidding on eBay.

Just Peachy!

2011-05-17T10:23:00.000-10:00

This monkey figurine doesn’t have a big ol’ beauty spot on his hips. Nope. That’s a hole. And if you turn him around, you’ll find a similar hole on the other side.

That’s because he’s a netsuke, used in old Japan to keep pouches from falling as they hung from sashes worn by people. Antique netsuke are usually carved from various substances – e.g. ivory, shellfish, wood.

This one is hand carved from boxwood and is holding a large peach. He came to me from Hong Kong. And that’s just peachy.

Happy Li’l Fella

2011-05-13T12:43:00.001-10:00

Despite having a rather incomplete left eye and what looks to be a stitch in his left side, this little monkey seems pretty happy.

I’m not sure if the eye thing is a flaw, or if it’s the result of being handled and worn out over the years. But, if it makes no difference to him and he still can smile, then it makes no difference to me.

Hopefully, that side stitch isn’t bothering him too much. Guess pressing on it with his hand helps, huh?

What? You Said What?

2011-05-08T09:53:00.000-10:00

Is it just me, or is this monkey hard of hearing? Is he cupping his right paw behind his ear so he can hear better? Or is he simply scratching his head? We may never know for sure because we don’t speak jade monkey talk.

I like the coloration on this figurine. There’s a hint of orange throughout, a natural occurance of the Sinkiang jade nephrite from which it was carved.

Purchased on eBay, the figurine came from China.

Back Hopping

2011-05-05T09:55:00.003-10:00

Everybody is on somebody’s back (except for the top monkey).

It’s a mother monkey sitting on the back of one of her children, with her second baby monkey clinging on to her back. Quite an unusual example of family togetherness. My question is, why isn’t daddy monkey helping out?

Hand-carved from ivory stone, this piece came from an estate sale being conducted on eBay. It was made in China.

Poker Face

2011-04-27T07:05:00.006-10:00

Now, tell me. Would you let a shyster-looking monkey with green eye-shades into a game of poker with you? I dunno if I would.

This ceramic little critter is a Josef original. His original owner must have lost money playing cards with him because he put the monkey up for bid on eBay at a very low upset price.

I got him with one bid, and now I'm wondering if all the other bidders knew what a card shark he really is. So far, I've been holding my own against him, but one of these days, I think he's going to get the best of me!

Monkey Dangle

2011-04-22T10:00:00.001-10:00

While toodling around in Las Vegas Chinatown during my last trip to the Sin City, I found this cute little guy hanging from a display.

Although it’s just a bling of sorts (without the jewels or beads), he does have a certain haughtiness about him.

I think I’ll just hang him from a lamp chain.

Chopstick Rest

2011-04-17T11:13:00.001-10:00

This little figurine is sway-backed for a reason. He’s a chopstick rest. When you’re having Asian food and need to lay your chopstick down, he’s more than happy to let you rest the business end on his back.

Made of ceramic, he came in a set of three from Thailand. I gave his pals away (a piggy and a cow) because otherwise I’d have to start collecting pigs and cows. Believe me, I have my hands full with monkeys.

Pretty neat, huh?

Murano Monkeys?

2011-04-12T14:13:00.003-10:00

These two glass figurines were described as products of Murano Art Glass makers in Italy. I’m not so sure that they are, but they could be.

The Australian collector from whom I bought them on eBay swears that they are, and the price was so low that I didn’t mind buying them.

Besides, I didn’t have any glass monkeys in my collection that looked like either of these two. Sometimes you just have to suspend logic and belief and go with the flow.

I just care that they are monkey figurines that match my criteria!

Cassava Spider Monkey

2011-04-07T09:49:00.002-10:00

She’s a coquettish little thing, isn’t she? Giving you the “come hither” glance over her shoulder.

If I didn’t tell you that she was ceramic, you’d almost think she was made of a plush fabric, stuffed with cotton. Well, she’s ceramic, created to look soft (it’s just a ploy to get you interested in her glance).

She was made in China for Enesco’s Home Grown collection.

Miss Pinky

2011-04-02T09:48:00.004-10:00

Okay, I admit it, I succumb to stereotypical thinking. Just because a figurine is colored pink doesn’t mean it’s female. After all, I’ve worn pink dress shirts before.

Still … why not? So sue me!

This nice monkey was hand-carved in China out of man-made pink-strawberry quartz, and found its way onto my monkey shelf via a flight arranged by eBay.

Art Majolica

2011-03-28T12:07:00.001-10:00

I like this monkey that was offered on eBay. Nobody else bid on it, so I got it for a good price.

It’s an example of Majolica pottery technique– sculpted from special clay and baked, and then hand-painted and glazed. But that wasn’t the end of its creation as the ceramist fired it again to set the glaze.

What I like is the way it’s colored –an ornate decorative motif that isn’t gaudy. The designs are bold, but the colors are more or less pastel and muted. Understated.

Just like its upward gaze.

The Monkey King

2011-03-24T11:24:00.000-10:00

This set of five figurines depicts Sun Wukong, “The Monkey King,” in various poses.

The Monkey King is one of the principal characters in the classic Chinese epic novel, Journey to the West. Sun Wukong had supernatural powers and was born from a stone. In the story, he accompanies the monk Xuanzang and helps him recover the Buddhist sutras from India.

Wukong was very strong and was said to be able to life nearly 18,000 pounds. He could travel more than 33,500 miles with just one somersault, and was able to change into various animals and objects. Unfortunately, because of his tail, he couldn’t successfully transform into another human.

This set is made from 1,000-year-old clay from Huishan Mountain in Southern China’s Jiangsu Province.

Am I Blue?

2011-03-20T10:35:00.002-10:00

This cobalt-blue glass monkey adds a dash of color quite unlike most other monkeys on the shelf.

Like many art treasures hand-created from colored glass, it is a bit fragile … especially because of its long, thin tail. He’s one of those that I’m very careful in handling

He’s made by Viking Glass and came to me via eBay.

Cuddling Up

2011-03-15T09:40:00.008-10:00

Mama and baby monkey are cuddled up into a beautiful ball in this figurine created out of a tagua nut. Perched on top of a wooden stand, mommy expresses her love for your baby in the most expressive of gestures – a warm and loving hug.

Tagua nuts come from the ivory nut palm that grows in Ecuador. After the tagua nut is dried in the sun for several months, it becomes as hard as ivory. Each fruit pod contains four or more seeds, each about the size of a hen’s egg.

I bought this beautiful piece on eBay.

Siblings

2011-03-10T15:41:00.001-10:00

At least I think they’re siblings – a slightly older sister with a flower in her hair watching over her little brother who seems to be sitting on some bananas.

But tell me … would a caring sister let her brother squish on their lunch? I dunno ‘bout that!

This cute pair came from Taiwan and are made of ceramic material. I’m sure glad I found (and won) them on eBay!

Pumpkin Rolling

2011-03-06T10:40:00.000-10:00

How do you like this sinister-looking character? The lighting and his color connote an aura of evil, don’t they?

This monkey seems to be holding onto the axle of a wheel, but in reality, he’s rolling a pumpkin … I didn’t know monkeys gathered and ate pumpkins, did you?

He’s made of Chinese amber jade and was carved in Hong Kong. He came to me through the mails after I bought him on eBay.

A Little Bling

2011-02-28T11:18:00.004-10:00

In Asia, I suppose young people (particularly young women) hang cute charms on their cell phone as well as their purse zippers. Here in America, we call it “bling.”

This very small baby monkey is literally hanging by a thread, and ready to adorn anyone’s personal carry-along cell phone.

This bling thing is made from ceramic and was purchased on eBay from an Asian vendor.

Dalmatian Monkey

2011-02-24T09:57:00.000-10:00

Have you ever seen anything like it? This monkey carved out of Jasper Dalmantine looks as though it’s got a bad case of chicken pox.

In fact, just looking at him is making me itchy. Those spots. Ewww!

I got him with one bid on eBay. And if he weren’t a monkey, I swear I wouldn’t even have given him a second look. But there he is now, sitting all by himself in the corner of my monkey shelf.

(The others won’t go near him, the poor guy.)

Blue-Rimmed Specs

2011-02-20T11:15:00.002-10:00

Remember cat-eye spectacle frames from the 1950s? The kind women used to wear that had cords or chains dangling from the temples?

I wonder if this monkey is a throwback to that era? It’s gotta be a girl because no self-respecting guy monkey would ever wear eyeglasses that looked like that … blue even!

Plus, guys push up their glasses with their index finger on the area between the lenses, NOT from the top. Oh, I get it, this pair of glasses has no temples to hold them up via the ears, so she’s GOT to hold them up somehow.

This porcelain monkey is from Japan. I know, because it says so on the bottom.

Little Family

2011-02-14T12:57:00.002-10:00

This is a nice little set of ceramic monkeys that was produced in Germany.

Mama’s either eating a banana or some kind of root vegetable. Can’t really tell. One baby seems to be puzzled about something and is scratching his/her head.

The other juvenile seems on the verge of mooning you. That white spot on his haunch is where a bit of the ceramic was chipped off.

Guess he wasn’t careful about where he planted HIS butt, huh?

A Mess of Jewels

2011-02-09T08:09:00.002-10:00

There’s something terribly wrong with the way this monkey decided to decorate its body with colorful gems. I mean, look at it! Has he no self-control?

According to the person who put it up for bid on eBay, it’s made of natural sapphires. Now, I’m not too sure of that because it was cheap and not worth really checking out with a jeweler.

He also said it was “unheated.” Anybody know that that means? It’s from Africa and I guess I’ll believe that.

A Golden Touch

2011-02-04T11:49:00.001-10:00

He has such a transparent personality that anybody can see right through him. He can’t fool anybody, that’s for sure.

A few of his extremities have been dipped in gold to lend a distinctive air when he sits on my monkey shelf. Like many others from Asia, he holds a peach, an allusion to the Legend of the Monkey and the Peach.

Hand-blown, he was made in Thailand and came to me via eBay.

Pink-Faced Sextet

2011-01-31T10:01:00.001-10:00

Here’s a cute little set of ceramic monkeys that found their way onto my monkey shelf, after making a trip across half the Pacific Ocean from Thailand.

They’re each in a serene reflective pose, except for that silly one who’s got his legs stuck up high in the air. I wonder if he was always the playful one in the bunch?

This group is tiny – each is a little more than an inch high – and they may have gotten into some mischief because they’re kind of pink in the faces.

Japanese Belle

2011-01-26T09:54:00.001-10:00

She’s a cute little thing, isn’t she? What? You don’t think it’s a “she”?

Hmmm, to tell you the truth, neither do I. It’s hard to tell with these monkey figurines. Unless the artist shows them wearing pink or a ribbon or with long eyelashes (all of which are totally unnatural in the wild), your guess is as good as mine.

Nevertheless, it’s a porcelain bell, produced by ARDCO (Dallas), and was made in Taiwan. It found its way to my monkey shelf via eBay.

Peachy and Brassy

2011-01-21T09:53:00.000-10:00

You’d never know this monkey was cast in brass until you check out its tail. Only then does it become apparent.

Covered from head to foot in cloisonné, the figurine is holding a multi-colored ripe peach in the traditional Japanese pose (re, the legend of the monkey and the peaches).

He certainly looks as though he’s anticipating quite a delicious first bite, isn’t he?

He’s made in China and was purchased on eBay.

Curious George the Painter

2011-01-17T10:31:00.001-10:00

He may not be the neatest painter in the jungle, but Curious George MUST know what he’s doing. And if I didn’t know better, I could swear he is getting ready to make a speech. I think that’s why he’s standing on the upturned bucket.

A lucky purchase on eBay sent this whimsical Christmas ornament my way.

This Curious George mini ornament is made for, and licensed by, Universal Studios.

Evolving into Upright

2011-01-13T10:19:00.002-10:00

There are a number of monkeys that are capable of standing up straight and walking upright when they want to. This handsome fellow seems to be evolving into one of them

He’s been created out of pewter by the Affinity Design Group, Inc., and came to me through a fortunate (and spirited) purchase on eBay.

I think he’s about to reach out and grab something, no?

Hmmm, I Wonder

2011-01-09T10:20:00.000-10:00

When a monkey wonders about something, he apparently sits on his butt, pulls his legs up against his body with his right hand, and flibbers his monkey lips with his left forefinger.

He doesn’t, however, have that furrowed brow that we humans often have when we’re thinking deeply. In fact, his eyes sure are popping out!

I wonder if he’s contemplating about something amazing that he’s seeing?

This boxwood-carved monkey is from Zhejiang, China. I got him on eBay.

Funny Monkeys

2011-01-05T09:57:00.001-10:00

Here’s a cute bunch of monkeys molded out of hard rubber, in various poses that bring delight to anyone (especially kids)

They’re actually teeny little party favors, making faces and rollicking around in silly poses, just to keep your attention.

Nine monkeys, nine silly willies … that I got for a song on eBay.

Egg Pot Planter

2010-12-31T10:11:00.000-10:00

Every now and then, a kind soul sends me an unusual monkey … like this Nyokki egg pot planter. It’s an egg, but yes, it’s also a monkey with a tail in the back and a bright, smiley face in front.

See the cracked-open top of his head? Look inside and you’ll find a little bundle of planting medium that has grass seeds in it. Perch the little guy on his container, pour some water into his open head, and wait.

And wait … and wait. Before you know it, he’ll sprout a head full of grass “hair” that you can mow and trim and arrange and maybe even munch on, if you are so inclined.

This cute Chia-like planter was made in Japan.

Keep him away from herbivores, however, or he might … (are you ready for this?) … lose his head.

Monkey Wrench

2010-12-27T10:10:00.000-10:00

I’m not saying this little guy will toss a monkey wrench into your life. Nope, I’m not saying that.

After all, he is serving as a spokes-monkey of sorts for Craftsman Tools, and I did have him hanging on my Christmas tree this year.

If you get one of these (they were available at Sears), just keep your eye on him. He looks plush, but he’s a hard fellow with a string coming out of his head.

Christmasy Shakers

2010-12-22T10:45:00.000-10:00

They don’t have any jingle bells on them, and they’re not adorned with glitter and garlands of tinsels, but these two monkeys certainly are the right color for Christmas.

This holiday pair of Apple Tree Design salt and pepper shakers are made of porcelain and hand-painted in China.

They’d look cute on your Christmas party table … seasoning for the season!

On All Fours

2010-12-18T09:40:00.000-10:00

Monkeys not only swing on trees, they usually walk on all fours when they’re on the ground, just as this little fellow is doing.

It looks as though he’s wondering if he’s in the right place. “Hey, what’s that up there?” he seems to be asking himself. Maybe he’s contemplating getting back up in the trees again? Who knows?

The person I bought him from thinks this ceramic monkey, created out of bone china, might have been made by “Bridge.” I have no idea who or what “Bridge” is.

Doink! Doink!

2010-12-14T14:11:00.000-10:00

When a monkey doesn’t quite get the idea, I guess the best thing is to hammer it into his head.

And that’s just what the monkey on the left is going to do to the unsuspecting money that’s relaxing and lying down with his thoughts off on a coconut tree somewhere in the tropics.

This cute set is from the Kreiss Ceramic Company and was made in Japan.

Eh? Whatcha Say?

2010-12-10T10:03:00.003-10:00

Carved from natural dark-green Sinkiang nephrite jade, this intriguing monkey comes from China, directly from the manufacturer, who sells similar monkeys on eBay.

I’ve got a couple of these, each a little different from the others, either in color or pose details. And that’s okay, even though I know that if I wanted to, I could buy a hundred of these and they’d all be different.

Those whiskers are intriguing, aren’t they?

Cell Phone Bling

2010-12-06T09:13:00.001-10:00

He’s hugging a peach, just like so many other monkeys in my collection. The thing is … he’s a bling!

You can carry him around with you by fastening him to your cell phone and listening to those decorative beads clickity clack against each other.

This little fella is made of ceramic and hand-painted, purchased on eBay.

Leaf Umbrella

2010-12-02T09:41:00.001-10:00

It’s not raining on the shelf where this little critter resides, but he’s hiding under a leave nonetheless (just to be safe, I suppose).

This monkey is hand-carved out of a tagua nut – it’s a seed from the tagua palm tree (also called the “ivory nut palm’ ... Phytelephas Aequatorialis) that grows in Ecuador. Each fruit pod containes four or more seeds the size of a hen’s egg.

Once the nut is carved, it’s briefly deep fried to achieve the brown coloring.

Pretty neat, huh? Looks like carved ivory.

Spaghetti Frills

2010-11-28T10:23:00.000-10:00

If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought this flashy monkey had opted for a poodle cut at the pet stylist.

This porcelain beauty is one of my favorites – it has all the makings of what, to me, constitutes a good figurine for my collection. It’s unusual to say the least, it’s beautifully hand-crafted, and I have seen no other like it in my travels.

And, at first guess as to where it came from, I bet a lot of folks would say France. But no, it is marked “Japan” on the bottom.

No, He’s NOT Dobby

2010-11-24T10:16:00.000-10:00

He only LOOKS like the house elf in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

He’s actually a monkey, carved from amber jade created with a synthetic powder, and imported from Hong Kong.

Doesn’t he look a little puzzled, though? No wonder his eyes are wide open like that. I think whatever he’s looking at will intrigue him enough that he’ll stand up and leave that drum he’s sitting on.

I picked up this strange guy on eBay.

Neopets

2010-11-20T10:37:00.006-10:00

Striped Mynci

One of the virtual pets that inhabit the Neopet virtual community website launched in November 1999, is the Mynci – a strange-looking little critter that comes in many colors.

Green Mynci

Myncies are not aliens (although they certainly look like aliens), and they do have a long, curly tails not visible in the pictures.

Described on a Species Profile trading card, Myncies (pronounced mwn-seas) are “mischievous, playful Neopets who can often be found playing practical jokes on other Neopets.

“Members of this fun-loving species have great balance and agility, which help them climb trees in search of the sweet fruits they love.”

They are indeed monkeys – albeit strange monkeys – and I got them on eBay.

Furry Bones

2010-11-16T12:59:00.001-10:00

Furry Bones is a collection of unusual figurines produced by Summit Collection of Arcadia, California. And strange figurines they are.

Each consists of a skeleton (only the face is visible) within a stitched animal skin. Not real skin, of course.

The animals depicted in the collection include a bunny, seal, elephant, owl, cat, pig, chicken, lion, cow, panda, dog, turtle, and of course, monkey.

My monkey is hanging on for dear life (or is it “afterlife”) to a ripe banana.

An Old Grump

2010-11-12T10:27:00.001-10:00

He’s just grumpy … an old grump. Wanna know why?

There he was, just hiding in somebody’s house for a little over a year, when suddenly a family member rousted him out of his sleep and put him up for sale on eBay.

And then I showed up and bought him. Ever since I got him home, that’s all he’s done is sit there with that grumpy ol’ look on his face.

Glass Quartet

2010-11-08T13:43:00.000-10:00

These four monkey sisters (or brothers, or brothers and sisters) complement each other well. And colorfully too – amber, light blue, purple and green.

I guess you can say they are transparent personalities and that one can see right through them.

Hmmmm. I wonder why the green one is looking off to the side and not talking with the others?

Curious Spaceman

2010-11-03T10:02:00.000-10:00

This is one of three Curious George mini-ornaments that I found recently on eBay.

Hang him on your tree and he looks like he’s floating in space. Of course, he doesn’t have a space helmet so I don’t know how he’s surviving.

I remember reading the Curious George stories when I was a kid in elementary school. Which will give you an indication of how old he is (and how old I am as well).

A Look of Wonderment

2010-09-12T09:23:00.002-10:00

It’s hard to make out the form of this monkey’s body, but take my word for it, it’s a monkey.

You also can’t tell just by looking at the picture that it’s a dual-purpose monkey. It’s made of pewter, covered with a cloisonné-like finish.

See that gold ring around its neck? It extends over his shoulders and down its back on both sides. If you push back on its head, it hinges backward, revealing a hollow interior to store things. Just like the one displayed a couple of monkeys below.

Hey, maybe I should introduce the two?

I found it in Las Vegas Chinatown, trying to hide in a glass case in the back of a Chinese gift shop.

Piggy Back

2010-09-07T09:24:00.000-10:00

You’ve heard of the term, “a monkey on my back,” haven’t you? Well who’d have thought a little boy would have a monkey on his back at this tender age?

Funny thing, but the boy seems to be enjoying it more than the monkey. In fact, the monkey has that “Hey, stop! I wanna get off!” look on its face.

Actually, I’m kind of stretching the limits by keeping this boy and monkey figurine in the collection. But I figure, heck, if I can have monkeys and rabbits sharing a netsuke, then why not a little boy?

This charming figuring was calling my name from a gift shop shelf in Las Vegas’ Chinatown.

Pot Belly Monkey

2010-09-02T11:10:00.000-10:00

Don’t tell his doctor, but this monkey has been eating too many bananas. Or perhaps it’s the coconuts that are causing his belly to swell up that way.

Now, that’s unusual, to see a pot-bellied monkey, I believe. Maybe monkeys and humans have so much more in common than we think, huh?

I found Mr. Pot Belly in a gift shop when I visited Laughlin, Nevada. Who’d-a thought I’d find one there in the middle of the desert?

Hula Hawaiian

2010-08-25T10:02:00.002-10:00

Created along the same lines as bobble-head dolls, this hula maiden is instead a bobble-hipped doll.

Give her a little nudge and the grass skirt starts swishing and her hips sway back and forth. Why, one almost expects her to start strumming her ukulele.

She really is a cutie, from her lauhala hat to her orchid lei, from her strummy ukulele to her native grass skirt. Not to mention the red anthurium and white plumeria flowers at her feet.

I found her in a little gift shop during a stroll in Waikiki’s famous International Market Place.

Bejeweled Banana-er

2010-08-20T09:53:00.003-10:00

Check out those eyes! If you just look into them, doesn’t it seem as though the monkey’s face almost transforms into a human’s? That’s kind of creepy, I think.

You can’t see it, but this golden monkey has a horizontally split tummy that opens, thanks to a hinge on its back. It’s not quite a box, for the inside doesn’t have a shape that would accommodate anything except maybe some jewels.

And those aren’t chicken pox spots on the arms and legs. They’re little jewels (rhinestones, actually).

I found this intriguing figurine in a Chinese gift shop in Waikiki.

Flavoring Carrier

2010-08-12T09:40:00.001-10:00

This is a little plastic Japanese flavor carrier that comes with small identifying stickers that you can apply to the top of its head (or anywhere else, for that matter).

In the back is a little hole where the flavoring (usually salt based) can be filled into its egg-shaped hollow body.

If you turn the bottom, the face changes to a sleeping face and the hole closes up.

Although the packaging is in Japanese, this monkey flavoring carrier was made in China. I found it at a Japanese market.

Blue-Green Eyebrows

2010-07-30T09:27:00.005-10:00

Have you ever seen a monkey with blue-green eyebrows? I mean seriously bushy blue-green eyebrows.

Neither have I. That is, until I found one in a Honolulu Chinatown gift shop on a recent monkey safari.

He's all dressed up in Chinese silk clothes and clutching a peach in his little hands.

I wonder what the inscription on the base of his perch says, anyway?

Monkey on Top

2010-07-25T09:56:00.001-10:00

I have a few monkeys perched on pedestals, but this is the only one I have that’s carved out of reddish-brown stone.

His purpose? I would venture to guess the base of his perch can be carved with a design, or an artist’s or writer’s ideograph, and inked to stamp an impression on one’s work – kind of like those used to make impressions in wax used to seal envelopes in olden times.

I found him in a Chinese gift shop during a monkey safari in downtown Honolulu, tucked in the back of the store on a shelf.

A Bump on a Log?

2010-07-20T09:14:00.000-10:00

Not really. But the monkey IS definitely sitting on a log, just staring up at something that’s caught his interest. I wonder what it is?

What I like about this figurine is that you can place him anywhere and then just imagine what he’s looking at. Put him outdoors at night and he’s looking at stars. Put him on your desk, and he’s looking at you.

I found this fellow on a back shelf with a red “On Sale” tag, at a curio shop in downtown Honolulu.

Springy Trio

2010-07-15T10:27:00.001-10:00

They could be street entertainers! The monkey on the left is playing what looks to be a banjo, although it's probably a Chinese instrument of some kind.

The other two are dressed in bright clothes that complement their happy visages.

They’re all mounted on springs, so if you give them a little nudge, they’ll even dance for you.

I found these at a Chinese gift shop in downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown district.

Rubber Tubbie

2010-06-28T13:24:00.000-10:00

This cute addition to my collection is part of Toysmith’s Squirting Bath Safari and is the equal of any rubber ducky found floating in a kid’s bathtub.

I stumbled across this one while browsing in the Las Vegas Natural History Museum’s gift shop. Those places are always good hunting grounds for animal figurines.

He’s rubber, safe for kids 3 and older, and was made in China for the Toysmith people in Auburn, Washington.

Orange Glow

2010-06-04T09:33:00.003-10:00

I found this guy in a specialty paper shop at a nearby shopping mall and was taken by his "white beard look."

At first, I thought it was just the color of his muzzle, but then I noticed the little protrusion at the chin and realized it indeed was a little beard.

He's a tiny little guy, less than 3/4 inch high (20 mm) and is a bit fragile, being made entirely out of glass. The colors aren't painted on, it's the glass itself that's colored.

Squeezy Key Chain

2010-05-29T09:42:00.000-10:00

I found this pudgy little guy in a stationery shop and was immediately taken by his bulgy eyes.

So I picked him up and squeezed his stomach. You know what? His eyeballs pop out and poise on stalks like some weird insect.

Otherwise, all he does is sit there on his rubbery butt and smile at me. Kinda creepy.

Latin American Charms

2010-05-25T09:43:00.002-10:00

At first glance this key chain from Costa Rica appears to hold four monkeys.

But if you look closely, you’ll see that three of them have babies on their backs. Let’s see … 4 + 3 = 7.

Key chain charms qualify for my collection, don’t you think? They’re solid material, they are shorter than four inches, and most importantly …

THEY ARE MONKEYS!

They were given to me by a very good friend who went on a Panama Canal cruise.

Tiny Pleading Eyes

2010-05-19T09:00:00.001-10:00

Sure, he’s got his little banana, but this little fella with the pathetic, pleading eyes seems to be wanting something else.

Maybe he took lessons from a puppy neighbor on how to get what he wants by looking up at people with soulful eyes? Who knows.

He’s a tiny little guy, only about 5/8 inches (14 mm) tall. I found him in a stationery shop in Honolulu.