Japanese Hand Carved Wood Bear and Cub Okinomo Figurines Kibori Kuma Folk Art

Okinomo Wooden Bear Figurines Kibori Kuma Folk Art 4.25" high Bear with Salmon and Small Cub 1.25" high Hand-crafted carved Wood Wonderfully crafted in the Japanese folk art tradition Glass eye inlay Freestranding Includes both the Large and Small bear. Some small nicks and fine cracks. Overall very nice vintage condition. See pics for details. Measures approx: LARGE BEAR: 4.25" h x 6.25" l x 3"w - weighs about 12 oz SMALL BEAR: 1.25" h x 2.25"l x 1" w ABOUT: Vintage Kibori Kuma- meaning carved wood bear. These bears were first made in the 1920s by farmers in Yakumo, Hokkaido and later Asahikawa, Hokkaido.Production began when a leader of the Tokugawa clan, who had recently visited Switzerland and received a carved bear holding a salmon as a gift, suggested the farmers carve these iconic bears in the colder seasons when crops could not grow.