RYOSHOSAI KOJIA Gold-Lacquer Four-CaseInroEdo period (1615-1868), 19th centuryThe upright form withkinji ground decorated in gold and silvertakamaki-e with a humorous parody of Daruma as a courtesan apanied by a woman dressed in his usual Buddhist garb on one side side, followed by Otafuku as ashinzo (apprentice courtesan) holding ahossu (ritual fly whisk) over her shoulder and twokamuro (child apprentices) carrying respectively sake c and a portable smoking set shown on the reverse, the interior of richnashiji; signed on the base in gold lacquerRyoshosai Koji with akao.8.2cm (3 1/8in) high.