Three Seated Monkeys

Ca. 1925

This small ceramic sculpture by Dutch artist Barend Jordens (often spelled Jordens or Jordan Barends in older sources) shows three closely grouped, seated monkeys. The figures are stylised rather than naturalistic: elongated arms and fingers, soft rounded forms and a calm, introspective expression.

Executed in a warm cream glaze with a fine crackle, the work has a quiet presence that fits both an Art Deco interior and a more contemporary setting.

The sculpture measures 14 cm in height – an intimate, hand-sized object that invites close viewing.

The Artist – Barend Jordens

Barend Jordens (early 20th century) was a Dutch ceramic artist known for his small-scale sculptural work. He often modelled animals and figures in a simplified, almost modernist form, emphasising rhythm, contour and surface rather than strict realism.

Working in the interwar period, Jordens’ ceramics connect to the broader Dutch Art Deco and expressionist movements: crafted, tactile and slightly humorous, but always with a strong sense of design. Because his production was relatively limited, his works are sought after by collectors of early 20th-century European ceramics.

Artwork Details:

Artist: Barend Jordens

Title: Three Seated Monkeys

Date: circa 1925

Material: Glazed ceramic with craquelure

Height: 14 cm

Provenance: Private collection