Antique Japanese Bear w Fish wood hand carved Kuma Ainu Hokkaido Hunting fishing

Ships USPS / Insured / Packed with care!

Gorgeous, highly collectible.

Artist name carved on bottom foot along with Year 1961.

Condition: Exceptional. “As is”, and retains the original craft/workmanship. No discoloration, chipping/cracking, or structural damage, with only slight surface wear.

Dimensions: 12.5" L x 8" Tall x 5" W

Weight: 3 lbs 13 oz. 

The Ainu are an indigenous people of northern Japan living and practicing their art and culture on the island of Hokkaido whose artisan hand carved this realistic chum salmon and heavily carved wooden bear and made it in the 1940s. At the time these were first produced just after the war which had become an important part of their survival as a people. The size and detail of this Ainu bear are extremely rare, and not the typical three-dimensional wooden objects, flat reliefs, and folk crafts in the shape of bears are manufactured mainly in Hokkaido, known throughout Japan, and purchased by tourists worldwide. This LARGE bear was made as a fine original quality religious object and is carved from one wooden piece, its fur is rich and shows intricately carved hairlines made with a chisel, (Itta-bori technique) and it holds a salmon in its mouth: the most authentic design for the kubori kuma. 

The Ainu had great reverence for bears and almost every home in Japan had a bori-kuma. They were providers of food, fur, and bone for tools and represent their anchor to the past and their guide to the future. The large chum salmon held in the mouth of the bear represents a good harvest. Bears brought gifts from the deities and were regarded as the important mountain god in disguise. The bear was a big part of their life providing food and clothing for their basic needs.  The Ainu have always worshiped the bear as a deity which resulted in a perfect match of carving their image to honor them. 

Being expert carvers as part of their way of life, it was a natural choice for them to supplement their livelihood by carving images of bears from wood. In the early part of the 20th century, the Ainu were forced to relocate to Hokkaido to cultivate the land and become farmers.  Due to the harsh winter conditions, they found it difficult in doing this and instead kept their way of life hunting, gathering, and carving small handheld images of the bear which are typically seen on the market and at auctions using modern methods of carving and scrap materials. During religious ceremonies and festivals, people donned their best clothes and there was a lot of drinking, dancing, and feasting. Prayers were said to the fire, house, and mountain gods, and the exhibition of the family and their bear was an honor to be shared.

All of our items are sanitary and stored in an ionized dust free environment. Ships with care. Gift wrapped upon request.