Indian Temple Fragment Depicting a Monkey

Gray monkey crouches with both hands over a toothy mouth, like a person trying not to laugh.

This temple fragment depicting a monkey is Jain, from Kutch District, Gujarat, India, and dates to the 19th century. It is carved & painted stone. Paintings called Lokapurusha, or Cosmic Man, show separate worlds for liberated, celestial and mortal beings, along with a multi-tiered hell, all arranged within the figure of the universe. Hunched carved figure in gray stone with gold bands at the neck and wrists, both hands pressed to its bared teeth. It sits on a square blue base with a toothed edge, with a yellow patch behind. It is 6 inches wide, 16 deep and 19 high.

Mortified, amused, or both, and rendered with great feeling.