¿Pochemu? (Lenin's Monkey) American Apparel T-Shirt

$35.00
This T-shirt illustrated by artist P.Verbitska was inspired by the story of the bronze monkey in Lenin’s study.

Nearly the entire time that Lenin worked in the Kremlin, his writing desk was graced by a bronze sculpture standing just behind the inkwell. This sculpture depicted a monkey staring in fascination at a huge human scull: it was a famous work by the late-19th-century German sculptor Hugo Rheinhold, The Affe mit Schädel ("Ape with skull”).

The sculpture was given to Lenin by Armand Hammer, who had purchased it at a London antique shop in 1922.

Lenin did not conceal his affection for the bronze monkey - it wasn’t by coincidence that he placed it in the most prominent place on his desk. There were no more statuettes or other works of art there - it was the only thing of its kind.

A long time after Lenin's death, his office in the Kremlin was turned into a museum, with the bronze monkey residing there until the end of the Soviet era.

This T-Shirt is captioned 'Почему' (Pochemu), which translates as 'Why?'


• 100% fine jersey cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.3 oz (146 g/m2)
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Double stitched

Shipped from USA.

Also available in White here.

*Please note that American Apparel clothing tends to run small. Please refer to the size chart below and consider ordering one size up if you prefer a looser fit.

Size guide

  XS S M L XL 2XL 3XL
Chest (inches) 30-32 34-36 38-40 42-44 46-48 48-50 50-52
Waist (inches) 28-30 30-32 32-33 33-34 36-38 40-42 44-48
  XS S M L XL 2XL 3XL
Chest (cm) 76-81 86-91 97-102 107-112 117-122 122-127 127-132
Waist (cm) 71-76 76-81 81-84 84-86 91-97 102-107 112-122

We ship to all countries! (that currently exist on the map)

Most orders are shipped from our fulfillment centers in USA. We route your order to the relevant fulfillment centre based on a combination of factors to ensure speedy delivery, including the recipient's location and availability of product variants. 

When will I get my package? 

Most orders reach their destination within 4-18 days, depending on where you are in the world. US deliveries are usually the fastest.

We know that it can feel long, but our shipping coordinator Dimitry says that compared to the 1928 Five-Year Plan for rapid industrialization of the economy of the Soviet Union, it's not too bad.

If you require products delivered by a certain date (e.g. a birthday) please email team@stratonaut.shop to verify your product availability.

While we always strive to get your item to you as quickly as possible, we cannot guarantee a delivery date for any product or order. Any listed time for a shipping method is an estimate only. For orders with deadlines please order well in advance!

International customs charges / handling fees

Some countries impose tariffs, duties, taxes, handling fees, customs clearance charges, etc for imported consumer goods. We do not collect these beforehand, and cannot give you an estimate of the cost - charges vary around the world.

Please conduct your own research to ensure there are no surprise charges when clearing your package through customs, and to have an idea of what the additional cost may be.

If you are unfamiliar with customs fees and charges, please speak to your local postal or customs office for more information. It is your full responsibility to verify the customs, duties charges, and procedures in your country prior to placing your order.

If customs fees and charges are refused at the time of delivery, your order will be returned and you will not receive a refund for shipment costs.

Check your address! 

Nor we, not the Central Committee of Planning of the USSR are responsible for mis-delivery errors via carrier, or incorrect shipping info. PLEASE double check that the address in your order is 100% correct before submitting!

Returns and exchanges are hassle-free at Stratonaut. 

If you’re looking to return or exchange your order for whatever reason, we're here to help!

We offer free returns or exchanges within 30 days of purchase. You can return your product for store credit, a different product, or a refund to the original payment method.

Just email us at team@stratonaut.shop with your order number in the subject line and we will assist you.

There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted:
Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error.

You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.