Okimono - Elephant ivory - an amusing carving a monkey trying to play shamisen - Japan - Meiji period (1868-1912)

The mother monkey, wearing a banana leaf skirt, playing a shamisen but probable not very good since the little ones hold their hands to their ears. Very fine carving. The eyes of the large monkey and one of the small monkeys inlaid in horn. Condition: - repair to some fingers of the right hand. Since the fingers are only a 3 mm it is hardly noticeable in normal circumstances. - there seems to be some cracks on the underside but only one is an age crack, the others are carved as part of the design indicating that the monkey cannot use the plectrum (called a bachi) to play because it is broken. A report from an expert is added to confirm that this okimono dates from the end of the 19th century and can be legally sold in the EU.