19th c Porcelain Monkey God, Yellow with Green symbols

Hi Nathan, For some reason, the monkey looks Indian to me. The patterns on the ears, the nose ring and the eyebrows just look like they have a Hindu influence. However, I can't find anything similar in my searches. Obviously, monkeys play a very important role in mythology across Hindu, Buddhist and most Asian countries, but I haven't seen one like yours before.
I did find a nice image of local potters trying to keep their craft alive in their village, and the various faces monkey seemed a bit similar but I am sure it is unconnected.
Best of luck.

 

fwiw, I think he's English. I've a vague recollection of similar early Worcester things. The symbology relates to a mix of card games and pseudo Masonic.

 

Great research INH. So Nathan feels his is probably English, although has seen it called Japanese. The one sold on eBay US has the same decorations as the one from eBay UK, both impressed 1897 on the bottom, which I suspect is why they both thought they could claim item is antique but presumably a model number. US must have been talking to AJ & sees a Chinese sun god - not unreasonable, since the one decoration all 3 have in common is the rising/setting sun on the chest - & a 'historically important object d'art'. UK notes 'more than a passing resemblance to the ceramic animal figurines produced by Emille [sic] Galle', so concludes it is French faience. A monkey that can be all things to all people.

 

That little guy appears to be contented with EVERYTHING !! ..

 

My vote is Continental from the style of the impressed numbers. First third 20th c.? Could be Belgian, German, etc.

 

my vote...he's eaten some fermented fruit....!!

 

Just a little note. I didn't see a Chinese Sun God.
I had never seen it before, and frankly it gives me the creeps (sorry Nathan), so it is not an item I would look into (or at) too much. But as far as I am concerned the monkey could be either pseudo-esoteric European or Asian.
I just suggested a possible representation of Sun Wukong, Chinese Monkey God, because Hanuman had been mentioned. If there were to be an Asian monkey God connection at all, that is. Sun is the first part of the name Sun Wukong.
Ah well, Sun Wukong did give Hunting/i need help a lead to another yellow monkey. Although the true identity still hasn't been revealed....

Btw, I am leaning towards pseudo-esoteric European Singerie. French perhaps? But I'd rather not look at it too much.

 

Haha. What the hell did I miss!!!! A lot.

The fact that it’s a relaxed monkey would lead anyone to East Asian Buddhist routes but the markings just didn’t look anything like Asian.

The Galle Faience is a good call. The incised numbers do look like first third of 20th century.

Such an odd which we now all agree there isn’t any reference to anywhere. Seems like it’d be screaming at you because of the markings but apparently not.

Thanks for the help, definitely not one I’ll buy though without enough knowledge.

 

almost certainly german and around 100 years old - but what factory, that is the question!?

 

almost certainly "mosanic" and this probably confirms german origin: "The Mitterteich business is often quoted to have been named Mosanic Pottery; that however is a misunderstanding as that name was merely a trademark used by Max Emanuel which described products made exclusively for the store in London"

 

Welcome to the forum, @stevieb .
Just curious, what leads you to believe it is German, possibly Mosanic?

 

hi - pretty sure I've seen other animals with a similar design but those other ones were plain and stamped/hand-written "mosanic" in capital letters in black ink

 

Welcome stevieb.

 

I hoped we’d seen the last of him.
Sorry, Nathan.

 

Haha, I haven't seen him since so just glad he's staying here