Monkey kneeling and resting its head in a hand

Late Period–Ptolemaic Period

500–100 BC

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 134

Monkeys are popular subjects throughout Egyptian history, their playfulness and close mimicry being very compelling. This monkey seems to imitate the sorts of poses used for servants who crouch and rest while waiting. See 26.7.1411 for an Egyptian example and 74.51.1701 for a Greek example.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Monkey kneeling and resting its head in a hand
Period: Late Period–Ptolemaic Period
Date: 500–100 BC
Geography: From Egypt
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: H. 2.4 × W. 1.6 × D. 1.5 cm (1 5/16 × 5/8 × 9/16 in.)
Credit Line: Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
Object Number: 10.130.1331
Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Cat Statuette intended to contain a mummified cat, Leaded bronze — Cat Statuette intended to contain a mummified cat
332–30 BCE

Bes-image of the god Hor-Asha-Khet, Bronze; gold, electrum, auriferous-silver, copper and copper-alloy inlays — Bes-image of the god Hor-Asha-Khet
4th–2nd century B.C.

Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet, cupreous metal — Statue of a goddess, probably Nehemetaway or Nebethetepet
550–300 B.C.

Kushite official, subsequently modified, Leaded bronze, gold leaf — Kushite official, subsequently modified
ca. 712–664 B.C.

Statuette of Amun, Gold — Statuette of Amun
ca. 945–712 BCE

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.