The Ainu are the indigenous people of northern Japan and Hokkaido. The bear holds special significance in Ainu spiritual beliefs and rituals.
Our carved Ainu bears date from the 1970s. This bear is in polished wood and has a wooden base.
The bear has a salmon in its mouth and is a particularly fine piece.
Packed weight is just over 2 kg. One-off piece.
The wood is Tilia japonica, the Japanese lime or Japanese linden.
