The monkey shines

Although the Chinese year of the monkey officially starts today, the interiors industry has been under the simian’s playful sway since the turn of the 21st century. In the luxury goods catalogs of Horchow (www.horchow.com) and Gump’s, there are porcelain and crystal figurines, embroidered towels and linens, even paisley-lined silk slippers adorned with golden monkeys. And, of course, Julius -- the disembodied, grinning chimp -- has popped up everywhere, from bar stools to flannel jammies.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2004 will be a year of imagination and transformation. So why not reference Victoriana, 1930s chinoiserie and modern-day Zen, all periods that explore Asian design? At Casa Armani, a low, hardwood coffee table with the weight of an altar is covered in hand-applied bamboo, and a square candle in Chinese red has a surprising sterling silver medallion. Ceramist Jonathan Adler’s furniture collection lays on the lacquer in the simulated bamboo fretwork of a dining chair.

For accent pieces with a modern flair, consider a foam monkey mask from Fitzsu Society that’s as intricate as origami. Or, at Dan Gallery, a fragment of a late 19th century Qing dynasty canopy bed that receives an updated presentation on a Lucite museum mount. In a bolder statement, International Silk and Woolens has a voile imprinted with graphic bamboo that turns a window into a just-add-monkeys jungle vista.