I
n the Gold Monkey Pearl Brooch you can see that a mischievous pair of monkeys are pictured affectionately playing. In contrast to the black baroque pearl that  forms the midriff of the monkey on the right,  a white baroque pearl is the midriff of the monkey on the left. Both of these baroques are high quality specimens of south sea pearls.

The  monkeys on this are formed by combination of fine gold work. They were crafted by hand using repoussé and 24 karat gold granulation. It took a total of 337 hours to complete the Monkey Pearl Brooch.

When you think of the monkey what comes to mind? Monkey business,  monkey see monkey do or something like monkeying around? Even though they can be naughty and humorous, the Monkey is a compelling creature and plays an important role in the world of  mythology and legend.

No where is this more evident than in the ancient traditions of Chinese and India. In China, the Monkey King is known for his entertaining exploits. He learned how to fly and ate the peach of immortality and stole the a magic weapon from the Dragon King.

“According to his basic story, the Monkey King was born from a stone egg during the beginning of creation. At first, the Monkey King looked exactly like a monkey. Then he gained more powers and looked more human. Finally, he could change into any shape he desired .” – Chinese Mythology, Jim DeFelice

In the great epics of India, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Monkey god Hanuman was known for his intelligence, bravery and strength.

It was the monkey deity hanuman, who fought against the demons to help Rama save Sita from the evil Ravana. As Hanuman the monkey represents victory over the lower aspects, the base elements of human nature.

Symbol jewelry, like this pearl brooch, that are based on a monkey theme have celestial affinities with the Chinese Zodiac. The people born during the year of the Monkey are considered to be helpful, bright and persuasive.

“Another characteristic of the Monkey is that he is extremely good at solving problems and has a happy knack of extricating himself (and others) from the most hopeless positions.” – Your Chinese Horoscope, Neil Somerville

Whether you’re born during the year of the Monkey or not, you can enjoy this exceptional piece of fine art jewelry, the Monkey Pearl Brooch.