Apothecary sign depicting a monkey

ORIGIN: SOUTH OF FRANCE, MONTPELLIER
EPOQUE: EARLY 19th CENTURY

Height : 134.5 cm
Length : 32 cm
Depth : 60 cm

Walnut
Well preserved
Polychrome remnants

Rare and curious walnut jointed sculpture with glass eyes. It is depicted crushing in a marble mortar with a pestle. Interior sign of a Montpellier’s herbalist’s shop called « La Caverne au Singe », Monkey’s Cave, founded in 1820. The monkey was animated thanks to a clever pulley and weight system when someone pushed the door.