Monkeying Around

If I could have any clock ever made, I would probably choose this one—an organ pipe clock with a porcelain monkey orchestra—made by a French clockmaker and goldsmith in the mid-18th century and kept now at Paris’ Petit Palais.
The conductor wears a brocade vest and full powdered wig. Another monkey plays the bagpipes, a third the French horn. And then there’s the hurdy-gurdy player….
Apparently Madame de Pompadour, who stars in All the Time in the World, had one just like it.

The monkey conductor, found on an 18th century organ-pipe clock at Paris’ Petit Palais.

An 18th century organ-pipe clock with a porcelain monkey orchestra at Paris’ Petit Palais.

The monkey trumpeter, found on an 18th century organ-pipe clock at Paris’ Petit Palais.

The fiddler…

The hurdy gurdy player…