East Asia, China, Ming Dynasty, ca. 1368 to 1644 CE. A stone baluster finial known in Chinese as "wanghee," an important element of Ming architecture, featuring high relief monkeys. This incredible piece has been carefully hand-carved with 2 monkeys: a mother and her offspring eating fruit, perhaps peaches. The peach is a Buddhist symbol of immortality and monkeys are also an auspicious animal and appear as symbols of longevity. The monkey king Sun Wukong was made the Guardian of the Heavenly Peach Garden, which had three types of mythical peaches that could grant immortality and other powers. Sun Wukong ate the peaches and gained this immortal power and other abilities, which upset some other mythical beings. Size: 12" L x 13" W x 19" H (30.5 cm x 33 cm x 48.3 cm)

Ming Dynasty architects continued the Chinese tradition of having important buildings - towers, pavilions, palaces, meeting halls, etc. - built atop terraces, requiring a walk up a grand stone staircase to reach them. These are bordered by balustrades punctuated by balusters of protective and symbolic guardian figures such as these monkeys.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, before 2010; ex M. Kobiashi collection, Hawaii, USA, 1960-2000

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#173463

Repaired and restored. Peach and several other projecting high pointed areas reattached and infill with new material to breaks and cavities which are nearly indiscernible. Light mineral deposits and encrustations.