SAITO SENKICHI: A GOLD LACQUER NETSUKE OF A HAMAGURI CLAM By Saito Senkichi, signed Saito 斎藤 with seal Senkichi 仙吉 Japan, 18th to 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The beautifully shaped clam lacquered with dense gold nashiji and decorated with takamaki-e autumn flowers and grasses framed by nashiji clouds. The underside with two himotoshi and gold-lacquered signature SAITO and red seal SENKICHI. LENGTH 4 cm Condition: Very good condition, minor wear to lacquer. Provenance: Ex- collection Heinz & Else Kress. Sold at Kunsthandel Klefisch, Auktion 87, 16 June 2007, Cologne, lot 220. For the artist see The Wrangham Index of Inro Artists, p.222. Auction comparison: A kogo by the same artist was sold at Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part V, 5 November 2014, London, lot 231 (sold for 1,000 GBP).