Section “Childhood” (Showcase 19)

Figurine of an African with an ape
A complex of two figures depicting an African half-sitting on the ground, holding a small monkey in his arms. In great intimacy with the man, the animal leans over and hugs his head.
The man looks old, with profound signs of malnutrition and physical deformity. The African features (large eyes, fleshy lips and bulging cheekbones) are indicative of the contact between the Greeks and the tribes of the African continent.
The artist realistically depicts an everyday market scene: The hunched Ethiopian with the tired little monkey on his shoulder, which, after having perhaps given some kind of performance, gains the sympathy of the passers-by, accompanied, presumably, by some kind of reward. They will thus be able to earn the food of the day!
The figurine was probably a child’s toy.