Vintage Japanese Kuma-bori Carved Wood Bear Sculpture, Mid Showa circa 1952 | SKU: 26M-095-2

Vintage Japanese Kuma-bori Carved Wood Bear Sculpture, Mid Showa circa 1952 | SKU: 26M-095-2

A rare dated example of Hokkaido kuma-bori folk carving -- hand-chiseled in 1952 with extraordinary sculptural force.

A kuma-bori is a traditional Japanese hand-carved bear sculpture, most closely associated with the folk craft tradition of Hokkaido, where indigenous Ainu artisans and later Japanese craftsmen developed the genre into a celebrated regional art form. This powerful example depicts a brown bear in a low stalking posture -- head bowed, jaws parted, claws splayed -- captured with remarkable anatomical tension. Every surface is worked with overlapping chisel strokes that evoke the dense, layered texture of thick fur, a hallmark of the finest vintage Japanese folk craft carving. The face is rendered with particular care: a small inset bead eye, a deeply carved open mouth, and a naturalistic snout give the figure genuine animal presence. Carved from a single block of dark hardwood, the piece shows the confident hand of an experienced craftsman. Most notably, the underside bears a hand-inscribed date -- 1952 -- along with additional inscribed characters, making this a securely dated and highly collectible piece of Japanese vintage folk sculpture.

This substantial carved bear makes a commanding statement as a living room accent on a bookshelf, mantelpiece, or console table, where its raw sculptural energy complements both wabi-sabi and Japandi-style interiors alike. It works equally well as a home office statement piece alongside books and natural objects, or as a unique housewarming gift for collectors of Japanese folk art and vintage woodcraft. The dark, richly textured finish pairs naturally with linen, stone, and raw wood surfaces, lending any space a grounded, earthy character rooted in mid-century Japanese craftsmanship.

• Origin: Japan (Hokkaido folk craft tradition)
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa) -- inscribed date 1952
• Material: Solid hardwood, hand-carved and darkly stained or naturally aged; inset bead eye
• Use: Decorative folk sculpture; collectible kuma-bori bear carving
• Modern Use: Living room accent or bookshelf display; home office decorative object; unique gift for collectors of Japanese folk art
• Features: Full-round sculptural form in low stalking pose; dense chisel-textured fur across the entire body; open-mouthed face with inset eye; hand-inscribed date (1952) and additional characters on the underside; carved from a single block of wood
• Dimensions: 9 1/4"W x 4 1/4"D x 6"H
• Condition: Excellent

A boldly carved and securely dated piece of vintage Japanese folk art -- a museum-quality kuma-bori bear that brings raw natural energy and Hokkaido craft heritage to any modern interior.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.