Antique Japanese Wood and Papier Mache Rib Cage Section from Anatomical Model pastoraali but one could certainly be

but one could certainly be added now

but it's really one of my favorite objects ever

Constructed entirely of wood

and wonderfully graphic

The monkey alone measures 7" long x 1 3/8" wide x 45/8" deep

Antique Japanese Wood and Papier Mache Rib Cage Section from Anatomical Model pastoraali but one could certainly beThis beautiful sculptural curiosity is a Japanese wood and papier mache fragment half of a rib cage from what I presume was a full body model of a human skeleton. I've learned that very finely crafted wooden skeletons were first created during the Edo era in Japan (late 1700s early 1800s), when medical doctors were unable to keep human skeletons for study and teaching purposes. I would imagine this piece was made following in that tradition; I am not