† HIDEHARU: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A KAPPA TRAPPED BY A HAMAGURI CLAMBy Hideharu, signed Hideharu 秀晴Japan, Nagoya, mid to late 19th centurySeated on a giant clam and trying to extricate one foot caught in the jaws of the shell, the mythical creature with an amusing expression, the pupils inlaid at the corner of the eyes in dark horn, the beaked face framed by long, finely incised hair, and the entire body covered in meticulously incised scales. The underside with two asymmetrical himotoshi, the signature HIDEHARU within a rectangular recessed reserve between the two cord holes.HEIGHT 4 cm, LENGTH 4.3 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor associated surface wear, some very light chipping to the spine spikes. The stained wood with some typical wear to the exposed areas.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related, larger wood netsuke of a kappa on clam, by Hideharu, at Lempertz, The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke I, 14 June 2014, Cologne, lot 133 (sold for 6,710 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.