Wooden Bear Hokkaido Kibori Kuma 木彫り熊, 1960s, Japan.

This hand-carved wooden bear (Kibori Kuma) is traditional woodwork from the Ainu, the indigenous Japanese people from Hokkaido.

Dimensions: height 32 cm, width 60 cm, depth 34 cm, 16 kg.

The bear figure is intricately detailed and stands on a matching wooden display. The wooden bear of the Ainu people in Japan represents their spiritual connection to nature and symbolizes their cultural heritage. With intricate hand-carved details, these sculptures serve as divine messengers and sources of protection.

They embody the deep respect of the Ainu for the bear as a sacred being and reflect their belief in the harmony between humans, animals, and the natural world.