Japanese Ainu Large Hand Carved Bear Signed w/ Salmon Cedar Kuma 19" 森 Statue 5 x 48 cm)

5 x 48 cm)

It weighs over half a pound

Blue & white hand painted imari ceramic in a maple leaf

The highly figured wood grain is beautiful in all Keyaki (Japanese elm) face with Sugi wood (Japanese cedar) casing

and is said to hold the fortunes of those who believe in him

Japanese Ainu Large Hand Carved Bear Signed w/ Salmon Cedar Kuma 19" 森 Statue 5 x 48 cm)This unusually large vintage Japanese carving (mid late 20th century) was created by the indigenous Ainu people now mainly on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The Ainu people traditionally carved these Kubori Kuma for religious purposes revering the Bear as a deity. Tinted red on the head and neck. Salmon in mouth. Marking = (Mori, artist surname) This statue measures about 11" tall by 19" long by 12" wide (28 x 48 x 30. 5 cm). The carving