Large Hokkaido Carved Brown Bear

Large Hokkaido carved wood Higuma (Ussuri) brown bear sculpture, dating to the early-mid 20th Century. 

Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido in Japan, are highly skilled in the art of wood carving. Hokkaido is also home to the Ussuri brown bear, the subject of this sculpture, which is a smaller cousin to the grizzle but much larger than the Japanese black bear. 

This Ussuri brown bear is shown on all fours with a large fish in its mouth. 

A wonderful piece of interior décor with a strong craftsmanship tradition behind it.