Wood - Shōwa period (1926-1989) (No reserve price)

Vintage Japanese Hokkaido Hand-Carved Wooden Bear Group – 50 cm Mother & Cub with Salmon Kibori Kuma Folk Art

【Description】
An exceptionally rare, dynamic, and monumental vintage Japanese Hokkaido folk art wooden sculpture (Kibori Kuma), depicting a roaring mother bear protecting her cub alongside a caught salmon atop a rugged rockery base.

Artisanal Folk Craft & Master Sculptural Composition:
Expressive Mother & Cub Scene: Posed with dramatic narrative tension—the mother bear stands proudly with an open snarling maw and raised paws, while the curious cub explores the freshly captured salmon below.

Intricate Fur Carving (Kebori): Both bears are textured with thousands of individually hand-chiseled flowing hair grooves, creating exceptional tactile depth and muscular definition.

Chiseled Rockery Base: Hand-carved from a single large piece of solid timber, resting on an integrated plinth with bold gouge chisel marks (Hatsuri) simulating a natural alpine stream rock face.

Contemporary Interior Display:
With its commanding 50 cm width and 37 cm height, this grand northern Japanese folk sculpture serves as a dramatic architectural centerpiece for wabi-sabi living rooms, rustic wooden sideboards, mantlepieces, or high-end Asian art collections.

【Materials & Construction】
Timber: Dense single-block Japanese hardwood with natural wood stain and soft wax patina.

【Condition】
Exhibits authentic vintage condition with honest signs of history and natural timber movement. Specific condition details include:

Natural Age Drying Checks: Features authentic historical drying splits (checks) running through the wooden base plinth and up toward the mother bear's front limb, characteristic of large solid timber carvings subjected to natural atmospheric changes.

Superficial age-appropriate dust patina in deeper grooves and gentle contact rubbing on base edges.

Completely stable, heavy, and structurally sound throughout.

Important Note:
This is an authentic vintage hand-carved wood sculpture showing natural grain checks and historical patina. Please carefully inspect all provided high-resolution detailed photographs to verify the exact physical condition, timber cracks, and carving details prior to placing your bid.

【Period】
Circa 1960s–1970s (Mid Showa Period / Hokkaido Ainu Folk Art Tradition)

【Dimensions & Estimated Weight】
Width (Length): 50.0 cm
Depth: 24.0 cm
Height: 37.0 cm