Japanese fine old handmade and hand-carved pair wooden carvings of a bear Higuma grasping salmon fish, cryptomeria (cedar) wood.

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

Fine original quality.

Dimensions: Large bear: 4 inches tall and 8.5 inches long
Small bear: 4 inches tall and 6 inches long

Handmade 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.