Antique Japanese Wood and Papier Mache Rib Cage Section from Anatomical Model pastoraali This is the sort of

This is the sort of object one wants to arrange other things around

and though the lettering of "prosperity" is pretty faint

9" w x 6 1/2" t x 1 3/4" thick

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 This is the sort ofThis 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