AN IVORY NETSUKE BY BISHU OF A RAT WITH ITS TAIL STUCK IN A CLAMIvory netsuke. Japan, 20th centuryAn accomplished study of a rat struggling to free its tail from a hamaguri clam by Saito Bishu (born 1947). The fur is well-detailed and inked naturalistically. The artist has captured the movement of the squirming animal very well, one cannot help feeling sorry for the poor little rat. Signed BI-SHU 批 秀 on the clam in red colour. The eyes inked in black. Condition: Good condition, minor wear to one lacquered eye Provenance: From a German private collectionHEIGHT 2.7 CM, WIDTH 4 CM, DEPTH 3.5 CM