Kibori Kuma (木彫り熊) - 佐藤作 (Satō saku) - Figure - Wood

Japanese wooden bear with salmon – Kibori Kuma – signed Satō -1960-1980

Characterful Japanese wooden bear with a salmon in its mouth, executed in the recognizable Kibori Kuma tradition from Hokkaido. The sculpture is presumably produced in the second half of the 20th century; the exact dating has not been established.

Kibori Kuma (木彫り熊) literally means ‘carved wooden bear’. This woodcarving tradition developed from the 1920s in Yakumo, Hokkaido. Tokugawa Yoshichika encouraged local farmers to carve wooden bears during the winter months as an additional source of income, inspired by Swiss woodcarving that he had brought back from a European trip. The first locally produced bear was exhibited in 1924. A tradition of bear woodcarving also developed in Asahikawa within the Ainu community. The bear with a salmon subsequently grew into a recognizable symbol and a beloved souvenir of Hokkaido, especially during the tourist revival from the 1960s.

This piece stands out for its deep, flowing notches that give the fur direction and volume. The dark finish of the bear contrasts beautifully with the lighter salmon, whose scales and fins have been carefully worked out. Its powerful, compact stance and expressive details give the sculpture a lively character. The wood species has not been determined.

On the underside of one paw there is a signature, read as 佐藤作 (Satō saku), meaning ‘made by Satō’. The full identity of the maker and the exact place of manufacture have not been established.

An assessment by the Yakumo Wooden Bear Museum or a specialist in Japanese signatures could help the description further.

Probably produced in the second half of the 20th century; the exact dating has not been established.

Dimensions: L 20 cm x W 11.5 cm x H 11 cm

Weight: 554 grams

This vintage object is in nicely preserved condition with minimal patina from age and use and will be securely packaged for safe shipping as a registered and insured item with track and trace.