This small figure of a seated monkey covered in milky white ivory glaze is a rare 'blanc de chine' piece. With hands clasped one over the other, his poise is serene.Monkeys were popular export items in the 18th century destined mostly to Europe where they were sold as exotic creatures. It is thought monkeys were trained to pick Oolong tea leaves which were a popular commodity in Europe.Dehua, located on the southeast coast of Fujian province, is well known for its production of white porcelain, known to Europeans as 'blanc de Chine'. The earliest Dehua porcelain was produced as early as the 14th century but the production and quality of these porcelain peaked around the 17th and 18th centuries.
