A squatting monkey with its eyes wide open forms an amusing fondling piece. It is carved from black Hetian jade. Black jade is not very common. Most of the so-called black jades are in fact of a very dark green color but the monkey remains black even under a strong beam of light. The word for monkey (hou) is a pun for the wish to become a ‘marquis’ or in other words to obtain a high position. The carving is modern and was acquired in Shanghai in May 2018. Height 5.2 cm. Width 3.1 cm. Depth 2.8 cm. Weight 62.3 grams.