Japanese fine old handmade and hand-carved large-scale wooden carving of a bear Higuma grasping a salmon fish, cryptomeria (cedar) wood, signed and mid Showa 1970s.

Quality: Ittobori style (carved from one wooden piece), Ainu Peoples, Hokkaido region.

Fine original quality.

Dimensions: 29 inches tall and 19 inches wide
It is signed under one paw.

Hand made and hand carved

History of the wood carvings of Ainu peoples.

The Ainu minority people located in Hokkaido created a wood carving culture and export business going back to the early 20th century. Many Ainu carved wooden statues in particular “bears” known as Higuma to sell as souvenirs. Until then, these bear carvings had only existed as religious objects, usually as headdresses and prayer sticks. History tells us that during the early 20th century, a former bear hunter by the name of Umetaro Matsui (E¨E´¾®A~·I`«A`E´. 1901-1949) started carving bears in the town of Asahikawa (Ðn~´¨E^Ð) after surviving an unfortunate run in with a bear.

Provenance: Old Northern Japan collection.