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Rare and impressive vintage hand-painted metal monkey-pulled rickshaw / covered carriage. This unusual decorative piece features a highly detailed monkey figure pulling an enclosed two-wheel passenger cart decorated with elaborate Asian-inspired motifs.
The monkey is modeled with wonderfully detailed facial features, textured fur, hands and feet, and wears a deep red robe embellished with repeating gold medallion designs. Its unusually long curved arms form part of the rickshaw assembly and terminate in decorative gold-tone fittings. Weight is 17.0 lbs.
The carriage is finished primarily in black with hand-painted gold, red and floral decoration throughout. Details include stylized flowers and foliage, bird/phoenix-like motifs, painted window panels with curtains, gold outlining and a gracefully curved covered roof. The large spoked wheels are particularly attractive, with black and red decoration, raised gold-tone bosses around the rims and metal hub fittings.
The piece has substantial weight and is constructed from metal, including ferrous components that respond to a magnet. The combination of cast and fabricated elements, individually detailed wheels, decorative fittings and extensive hand-painted ornamentation gives it considerable visual presence.
No maker’s mark or country-of-origin marking has been located, so the exact manufacturer and origin remain unidentified. Similar examples are sometimes described as Japanese or Asian export decorative pieces; however, this example is being offered without a definitive country attribution.
CONDITION
Very good vintage condition with an especially attractive degree of surviving original-looking decoration. The black, red and gold painted surfaces remain vibrant, and the intricate floral and figural details are well preserved.
There is expected age-related wear including minor paint loss, rubbing, scratches, oxidation/patina and other small surface imperfections consistent with an older hand-painted metal object. The wheels, carriage, shafts and monkey figure remain assembled and the piece presents beautifully.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description and provide the best representation of condition.
A distinctive and difficult-to-find decorative object with tremendous character—ideal for collectors of Asian decorative arts, chinoiserie, vintage metalwork, monkey figures, rickshaw models and unusual statement pieces.
“Exceptionally well-preserved original painted finish with age-appropriate minor wear; no repainting or restoration known.”
Dimensions
Height: 9 in (22.86 cm)
Width: 22 in (55.88 cm)
Depth: 13 in (33.02 cm)
Materials and 20th Century
Date of Manufacture
1980s -1990s
