A boxwood polychrome netsuke of a sleeping sarumawashi, with a small monkey on his shoulder trying to steal food from a bamboo container. The sarumawashi was a form of popular Japanese entertainment in which trained monkeys, guided by their handler, performed dances, acrobatics and small theatrical sketches. Widespread since the Edo period, it combined amusement, ritual elements and the notion of good fortune. Netsuke, composed of the kanji ne (根), meaning "root," and tsuke (付け), meaning "to attach," are small Japanese sculptures originally used as fasteners to secure objects to the sashes of kimono (obi 帯). From the late 19th century they became highly collectible in Europe and America, admired for the variety of subjects, the fine details, the patina and their strong tactile appeal. ---The netsuke is in good condition. Light wear of the polychromy. Please refer to the pictures for further details. The item will be carefully packed and shipped via DHL or FedEx, accompanied by the original certificate of authenticity issued by Mastromauro Japanese art gallery based in Milan, Italy. 233