Chinese Temple Pillar with Contempletive Monkey

Chin on one hand, arm over his head. The monkey has taken a question seriously.

This temple pillar with contemplative monkey comes from Shanxi Province, China, and dates to the 17th century. It is stone. Monkeys are a familiar presence in Chinese art and folklore, celebrated for their wit. He sits at the top of a plain faceted post, a long arm curling over his round head, the other hand at his knee. A diamond-patterned tooling covers the shaft below him. His face is simple and carefully drawn, and the brownish-grey stone looks worn. It stands 21 inches high.

He has been considering it for some time. He may yet get back to you.