KATSUO: A MASTERFUL SOLID GOLD OJIME OF A SARUMAWASHIBy Katsuo, signed Katsuo 勝小 Japan, Meiji period (1868-19812)Superbly worked as a kneeling monkey trainer wearing finely incised and patterned robes, his monkey clambering over the large bag slung over his back. Both the cheerful sarumawashi and the monkey with well detailed faces, especially considering the minute size.. The underside incised with the signature KATSUHIRA to one leg beside the lower cord hole.HEIGHT 1.8 cmWEIGHT 6.8 gCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear. Provenance: Christie’s, 4 July 1984, London, lot 573. A Distinguished Private Collection, acquired from the above.Literature comparison: Compare a related gold ojime of a sarumawashi by Masayoshi illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 744.Auction comparison: Compare two related gold ojime from the same collection as the present lot and also previously at Christie's, 4 July 1984, London, lot 567, at Galerie Zacke, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 314 (sold for 17,696 EUR) and 315 (sold for 10,112 EUR).