A Powerful Wooden Bear Okimono

[sabi]

Bought this recently, my first acquisition of the type, and was hoping to identify the species of wood used and hopefully the mei as well. 

 

Appreciate any thoughts, and feel free to post up your animal/creature themed sculptures as well!

 

 

[PietroParis]

It looks like ぐ 刀 Gu To (carved by Gu?)

[sabi]

Thanks Pietro!  I figured it was a folk art piece that wouldn't turn up much but worth a shot.

[Matsunoki]

Hi Evan

The wood looks very much like boxwood……but I’m not entirely sure it’s Japanese…..although as you say it could be folk art/amateur work. Usually the bears fur would be carved “all over” and things like the underside of the feet would be fully carved as well.

[sabi]

Thanks Colin! Appreciate the help with the wood, and yeah honestly I'm not sure of its origins!

 

Was bought from Japan but obviously that doesn't mean anything. Just liked the look of it, but the carving of the fur and the way it "sweeps" along the sides of the feet do have a Japanese feel to them IMO (the subject also appears to be an Ussuri Brown Bear). Definitely thinking folk art, I don't think the fact that it's not carved all over is due to any technical restraints, just seems like the intended aesthetic.

[Matsunoki]

I agree the carving of the fur is very well done….and the bear does look like he is hooking a salmon out of the river. I don’t think it’s got much age though so perhaps even a post war souvenir item?…..but ultimately the only thing that matters is that you like it …..that’s the best reason to buy anything. Enjoy it!

[Peter Bleed]

Carved bears are a common and popular souvenir from Hokkaido where they are generally considered to be "Ainu" art. Airports and train stations in southern Hokkaido are full of the. BUT,  this one is wonderful. It really is better than the usual ones to be seen. I assume this one is "AINU" but it is outstanding!

The "signature" is tough. I agree with Pietro that it looks like it says "GUTO", but I wonder if it might not be like a Yago which combines pictures with kana and kanji. In that case it could be a name or a shortened abbreviate  like "Yama To."

Peter

[sabi]

Thanks Peter, really appreciate the info!  I'm somewhat familiar with the Ainu and will certainly have to do more reading now.

 

Great tip about bears being popular tourist items as well!  Very good to know when scouting any future purchases.  I think the sheer size of this one removes that possibility (as well as the skill of the carving) - it's a full size okimono that's a little over a foot long.  Not sure it would fit in the overhead 

 

Took a couple pics to show it a little better now that I have it in hand.

 

[sabi]

[Alex A]

Wow, big bear!

 

Maybe this is why the fur not carved all over, may have had other stuff to move on to! 

[DoTanuki yokai]

I think the bear just came out of the water, he is wet and that is the reason he is not carved all over. At his hind legs you can clearly see the wet hair sticking together. Just a wild guess