Monkey Christmas Decoration

This gold-coloured monkey is cast in recycled aluminium in India for Namaste, a UK Fair Trade company, and hangs from a loop of red velvet. It belongs to a small family of gold animals and emblems from the same workshop, and at 9 x 10cm it is sized for the branches of a tree, a hook in a window or the corner of a parcel.

The metal is aluminium that has been recycled and recast. Aluminium is one of the few materials that can go through that process again and again with no loss in quality, and remelting it uses considerably less energy than refining new metal.

The workshop that makes it is committed to steady employment for its community and supports local projects with part of what it earns. It has also been bringing women into metal casting, a trade that was long done only by men in India, as modern equipment has made the heaviest stages of the work more manageable.

How to Care for Your Metal Decoration

A soft cloth, very lightly dampened, is all the monkey needs. Dry it afterwards so that no moisture is left in the detailing, and keep it clear of metal polish and scouring pads, which strip the gold-coloured finish. Between seasons, store it flat in tissue so it does not scratch against other decorations.

• Material: recycled aluminium, gold-coloured finish
• Size: 9 x 10cm
• Hanging: red velvet loop
• Made in: India
• Decoration only, not a toy.