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Very Large Vintage Japanese Ainu Hokkai Bear Carved Wood Sculpture
1 121,77 €
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A rare large and most impressive rustic midcentury Japanese Ainu hand carved Ussuri Brown Bear sculpture.
Indigenous Ainu Peoples, probably Ashikawa, Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, mid-20th century, anonymous artist.
This exceptional example of traditional Kibori Kuma (木彫り熊) was finely hand carved, chiseled, sculpted and painted from a massive block of solid Japanese hardwood, using old primitive techniques with customized knives and chisels, the artisan would sit on the hut floor, using their feet as a vice to hold the block of wood, carefully manipulating and turning, wood chips flying, skillfully carving to create this beautiful piece of art!
This massive scale realistic rendering showcases the artisan's exemplary skills, workmanship, and artistry, the bears aggressive naturalistic appearance comes to life, evoking power, strength, and natural bounty, lending to its fierce dramatic presence.
Modeled as a wild Ussuri brown bear standing on four legs, head slightly tilted up as if about to expel a ferocious roaring growl, having inset black glass eyes, mouth agape with jagged teeth exposed, the bold muscular body with distinct richly textured chip-carved fur, this sculpture captures the essence of Ainu reverence for nature, this sacred animal, and their deep connection to the land. No apparent signatures, typical of folk art work.
- DIMENSIONS: (approx)
19.5" Wide x 11.375" Tall x 13.25" Deep;
Wight: 18.75lbs
- HISTORY / BACKGROUND:
The Ainu are an aboriginal hunter/gatherer/fisher people who once inhabited many of the islands that bound the southern half of the Sea of Okhotsk north of the main Japanese island of Honshu and Southern Russia.
Their land was contested by the Japanese Empire and the USSR for centuries, with the Meiji era Japan colonisation of Hokkaido taking place in the 19th century.
Colonisation dispossessed the native Ainu people of their lands and property. Widespread discrimination enforced against them, including their forced relocation into mountain areas and the prohibition of the use of the Ainu language decimated their economy with the eventual aim of the extinction of Ainu culture and its replacement by Yamato Japanese culture.
The history of the Ainu bear is intertwined with the Ainu's spiritual beliefs and way of life. Long revered as a sacred animal, the bear is viewed as a symbol of strength, wisdom, and protection, while also holding a central place in Ainu rituals, with ceremonies conducted to honor and communicate with these powerful creatures, and in Ainu mythology, the bear is often depicted as a divine being, capable of transcending the boundaries between the human and spiritual realms. So it's quite prophetic the bear played such a large role in both the region and cultures revival.
The Hokkaido bear carving story all begins when the “Tiger hunting Lord”, The Marquess (one rank below Prince/Duke and one above Earl/Count) of Owari-Tokugawa Family, Yoshichika Tokugawa went off on his tour of Europe in 1921. On his trip, he happened upon peasant art. Rustic handmade items crafted by farmers in the wintertime in the Swiss Alps and German Black Forest. These primitive decorative objects, such as simple bowls, spoons, figurines, letter openers, figural statue, were sold as souvenirs to help the farmers survive through the winter. Ever on the look out for economic opportunities for his family’s former servants, Yoshichika brought back many of these wooden items, among them were two wooden bears.
Knowing the cultural significance of the bear to the Ainu, and seeing there was no work or cultural entertainment to be had by the Ainu, Yoshichika took the items back to Hokkaido as samples so that like the farmers from Switzerland and Germany, they too could sell the wooden bears as souvenirs. At first he suggested to his farmers that they take inspiration from the Swiss items and carv similar things, but after much trial and error, they made a group decision to focus mainly on carving the bears. Masao Ito carved the first bear in 1924.
Yoshichika encouragingly promised to buy the carvings, good or bad, to support their efforts at first. Being a well connected nobleman, he invited artists, including Kaneyuki Tokura from Tokyo to hold seminars on the art of carving. He also started the first Yagumo Art Show and contest held to promote folk art. They struggled at first because at this time Japanese did not even have a word for “folk art”. Farmers had little understanding or appreciation of art. But Yoshichika and his farmers kept working and chose the best bears, had them stamped with a Yakumo brand and began selling to the public. Production increased and by 1932, these Yakumo bears gained national attention. Also, by this time, the Yakumo bears stylistically diverged significantly from the sample bears brought from Switzerland and Germany; paving the way for what we now recognize as the Hokkaido bears.
Hokkaido became a destination for travelers as well as a many military men who would be stationed there. Decades ago, especially before everyone had cameras, the carved bear souvenirs and artworks were a hit for such travelers. They would bring them back home with pride. And it was big business for craftsmen, artists and even carpenters who wanted to earn some money. So popular were these brown bear carvings of Hokkaido, that they were once a staple of Japanese Tea Rooms and entry ways. They reached their heyday in the Showa 40’s (1965-1975). And so they were slowly receding from collective memory, but just now have resurged in popularity as seen in a recent article in GQ magazine.
Highly desirable and sought after, collectors are willing to pay as much as a $25,000 for the rarest of these hand carved Ussuri brown bear. Yet, the history of these carved bears of Hokkaido is, in Japanese terms, not a very long one
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Whether as the highlight of any serious collection, or simply displayed as a table-top sculpture or floor-standing statue, this remarkable work is sure to be a garner attention as the statement piece of any luxurious lodge or ski chalet, rustic cabin retreat, lakeside country cottage, Adirondack retreat, in the study, gentleman's office, trophy room, or atop the fireplace mantle, this extraordinary work is sure to add a touch of rustic warmth, rich historical depth, cultural interest, and unique dimensionality to any space!
- Dimensions:Hauteur : 28,9 cm (11,375 po)Largeur : 49,53 cm (19,5 po)Profondeur : 33,66 cm (13,25 po)
- Style:Forêt-Noire (Dans le style de)
- Matériaux et techniques:
- Lieu d origine:
- Période:
- Date de fabrication:circa 1960s
- État:Usure conforme à l âge et à l utilisation. Great original vintage condition. Very well made, strong, sturdy, stable. Attractive appearance, nicely aged warm rich dark patina. Wear commensurate with age display. Overall excellent shape and presentation.
- Adresse du vendeur:Forney, TX
- Numéro de référence:1stDibs : LU5977248064002
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