Menuki – Monkeys with Tools Japan, Edo period Copper alloy with gilt details LS063

Antique Japanese Menuki – Pair of Monkeys with Tools
Edo period, 18th–19th century

This charming pair of Edo-period menuki depicts lively monkeys engaged with tools, crafted in copper alloy with gilt embellishments. One monkey embraces a spade across its chest, while the other leans back playfully with a mallet-like implement. Their fur is finely chased, their faces animated, and their tools brightly picked out in gilt, giving the small fittings remarkable energy and presence.

Behind each figure lies a stylized bundle of thatch or wood, anchoring the scene in rural labor and perhaps alluding to agrarian prosperity. Yet the tone is humorous—the monkeys echo human work habits in a satirical and engaging way, embodying wit and mischief.

The motif carries auspicious significance. In Japanese belief, monkeys (saru) are not only associated with cleverness and agility but also function as protective symbols. The word saru means “to expel” (去る), making monkey imagery a charm to ward away misfortune or illness. Paired with tools of labor, these figures suggest a wish for both industrious prosperity and spiritual protection.

• Origin: Japan

• Period: Edo (18th–19th century)

• Medium: Copper alloy with gilt highlights

• Dimensions: Each approx. = 1.5 cm

• Condition: Well-preserved, with rich patina and bright gilding remaining

• Provenance: Japanese collection

LS063