Monkey With Cymbals

The origin of the three wise monkeys comes from a Japanese saying that translates to "speak no evil, see no evil and hear no evil." A carving over the door of the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Japan, produced during the 17th century is one of the earliest known visual representations of the concept. On 1stDibs, find a selection of art and decorative objects depicting the three wise monkeys.

The famous Danish wooden monkey is a work by designer Kay Bojesen. He became world-famous for creating wooden toys that had a soulful presence and an impish sense of humor. With more than 2,000 pieces to his name, he was one of Denmark's most prolific artisans in the 20th century. He is best known for his playful and cheerful monkeys. Find a selection of Kay Bojesen pieces on 1stDibs.

The three wise monkeys represent the idea that a person should see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. This imagery comes from a Japanese saying and grew in popularity during the 17th century. On 1stDibs, find a variety of art and decorative objects depicting the three wise monkeys.

A server would use a monkey dish to present nuts and other small finger foods and condiments. The name comes from the centuries-old practice of giving a small portion of food to a monkey to determine if it was poisoned. Shop a collection of monkey dishes on 1stDibs.