Monkey musician (part of a set) 1755 - 1765

Curator: Quite dapper, wouldn't you agree? They have this almost… melancholic air about them. Editor: Indeed. Today, we're observing "Monkey Musician (part of a set)," crafted between 1755 and 1765 by the Derby Porcelain Manufactory. These figures, rendered in delicate porcelain, are currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: Porcelain monkeys in tiny waistcoats, attempting refinement. A real comedy. Yet, the skill required to mould something this precise, this whimsical—it hints at something beyond pure amusement, no? The craze for singerie was something that started way before this particular set, dating back to the early 18th century. Editor: The details, the tiny buttons on their coats! It's astonishing. You sense a gentle poke at the societal aspirations, perhaps? Are the artisans subtly pointing out the ridiculous in aristocratic posturing? Curator: I like the phrase you use: 'aristocratic posturing'. That could be it. These comical figures were often created to mock the follies and vanities of the upper classes. The contrast between the monkeys’ inherent wildness and the pretension of their outfits surely makes for a pointed statement. It touches upon broader anxieties and criticisms circulating at the time about class, decorum and social mobility. Editor: Their eyes seem glazed over almost… as if they're trapped in a perpetual, pointless performance. Still, there is that beautiful fragility of the material, like a bubble about to burst. Curator: True, the Rococo was often theatrical and this monkey band really embodies that flair for the dramatic. They manage to encapsulate societal critique within delightful, accessible forms, something which might still appeal to us in our own contemporary anxieties. Editor: Indeed, still performing, still making us wonder…