Standing in the peaceful Andreasplatz courtyard, directly in the centre of the old city, this greedy uvavorous simian blends in with the patrons of the cafes that surround it. He is the fourth Basel monkey statue in a lineage going back to the 14th century. After the first broke in 1585, a replacement, the so-called “new monkey” was sculpted in the 17th century, replete with hat and shirt. In 1867, the fountain was installed, and the sculpture given pride of place atop it.

The third version was a replica carved in 1916 because the new monkey was becoming too weathered and retired to the Historisches Museum. And in 1973, that was again replaced due to weathering, by another replica. He’s had a coating of mineral oil since to protect him from a similar fate.