A group of
figurines made in
porcelain by the
Meissen fine china works in
Germany, consisting of a
Baroque orchestra (sometimes a
Classical orchestra) dressed in
18th century livery (including
wigs) consisting entirely of ...you guessed it,
monkeys! Supposedly occasioned by a remark by a local composer after a really hairy rehearsal, it's worth noting that during the
Rococo era, representations of monkeys in the refined garb of the time doing "civilized" things were all the rage -- even without our modern apprehension of our common kinship, the implied message seemed to be "Are we all that different?" Each monkey carries an authentic
musical instrument of the time, and in larger sets a few female singers are included also. The range of expression ranges from the purely
simian to the sarcastically human, the unheard musicianship ranging from stolid workmanlike plodding to wild anarchy, with the
conductor, typically depicted in an explosive rage, trying to keep order.
Monkey bands have been made (with a few decades off for Soviet control of the works) almost continuously since the mid- 1700's, and are worth collecting even now, for their incredible detail and beautiful glazing. At $150 per 8" monkey, they outclass "Precious Moments" all hollow.