Trumpeter for the Monkey Band c. 1765

This porcelain figure of a trumpeter, part of a monkey band, was crafted by the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. It encapsulates the 18th-century fascination with Singeries, a popular visual motif depicting monkeys in human attire and activities. The monkey, dressed in the height of aristocratic fashion, playing a trumpet, is a potent symbol. In the past, monkeys were used to mock human behavior and society. This connects to earlier visual traditions, like medieval bestiaries, where animals symbolized human vices. Consider how the trumpet, typically an emblem of fanfare and nobility, is here wielded by a monkey. This juxtaposition embodies a satirical commentary on the aristocracy. The monkey's attire and musical role echo through history, appearing in varied contexts like Renaissance tapestries and modern political cartoons, each time subtly shifting to reflect the evolving social mores and anxieties. This cyclical re-emergence reveals the enduring human tendency to use animal symbolism to dissect and critique our own society.