What is Japanese wood carving?

Japanese wood carving is an art form in which artists produce intricate figurines and other objects by cutting and shaping blocks of zelkova, camphor or paulownia wood. In Japanese, the artwork is known as inami. Find a selection of Japanese wood carvings on 1stDibs.

Japanese Carved Bears

Bear Antique

Bear Statue

Bear Wood Carving

Hand Carved Sculptures Japan

Large Antique Edwardian Quality Carved Linden Wood Japanese Bear Carrying a Fish

$2,138

H 16.93 in W 14.97 in D 9.06 in

Large Antique Edwardian Quality Carved Linden Wood Japanese Bear Carrying a Fish

Located in Suffolk, GB

Large antique Edwardian quality carved linden wood Japanese bear carrying a fish having a large

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Edwardian Animal Sculptures

Materials

Other

A Japanese Wooden Carved Bear, 20th Century

$1,020

H 14.57 in W 12.6 in D 10.63 in

A Japanese Wooden Carved Bear, 20th Century

Located in ARMADALE, VIC

A Japanese Wooden Carved Bear, 20th Century Home decor, interior design and collectibles

Category

20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Unusual large Antique Edwardian Japanese Carved Linden Wood Bear

$1,291

H 14.97 in W 14.18 in D 6.7 in

Unusual large Antique Edwardian Japanese Carved Linden Wood Bear

Located in Suffolk, GB

Unusual large Antique Edwardian Japanese carved linden wood bear having two bears standing on

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Edwardian Animal Sculptures

Materials

Other

Very Large Vintage Japanese Ainu Hokkai Bear Carved Wood Sculpture

$1,295

H 11.375 in W 19.5 in D 13.25 in

Very Large Vintage Japanese Ainu Hokkai Bear Carved Wood Sculpture

Located in Forney, TX

A rare large and most impressive rustic midcentury Japanese Ainu hand carved Ussuri Brown Bear

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Art Glass, Hardwood, Paint

Large Japanese Old Hand-Carved Wooden Bear 1950s-1970s / Primitive Sculpture

$1,300

H 18.12 in W 28.75 in D 15.75 in

Large Japanese Old Hand-Carved Wooden Bear 1950s-1970s / Primitive Sculpture

Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP

This is a large, old Japanese hand-carved wooden bear. With its dignified stance and overwhelming

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Primitive Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Large Hand Carved Wooden Bear Family With Salmon 33 Inches, Signed

$1,900Sale Price|32% Off

H 33 in W 31 in D 19 in

Japanese Large Hand Carved Wooden Bear Family With Salmon 33 Inches, Signed

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old handmade and hand carved wood bear parent and child "Higuma" carrying their catch

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Carved Wood Ainu Bear with Baby and Fish, Hokkaido, Japan, Keyaki, Showa Period

$1,106Sale Price|25% Off

H 17 in W 22 in D 10.5 in

Carved Wood Ainu Bear with Baby and Fish, Hokkaido, Japan, Keyaki, Showa Period

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Ainu Bear with baby and fish, Hokkaido, Japan, Keyaki, Showa period. Hewn from one solid piece

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Wooden Object AINU Statue Bear 1980s

$188Sale Price|20% Off

H 5.71 in W 2.37 in D 1.58 in

Japanese Wooden Object AINU Statue Bear 1980s

Located in Paris, FR

This is an object of a person from Hokkaido prefecture in Japan. They are called Ainu. This object

Category

Vintage 1980s Japanese Showa Antiquities

Materials

Wood

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Sculpture Figurine

$400Sale Price|27% Off

H 5.71 in W 8.67 in D 4.34 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Sculpture Figurine

Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP

This is a vintage hand-carved wooden bear from Japan. It was crafted in the mid-Showa period (1950s

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

1960s Japanese Signed Ainu Hokkaido Wooden Bear Carving Sculpture

$1,750

H 10 in W 16.25 in D 8.125 in

1960s Japanese Signed Ainu Hokkaido Wooden Bear Carving Sculpture

Located in Forney, TX

Ussuri brown bear. Yet, the history of these carved bears of Hokkaido is, in Japanese terms, not a very

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Hardwood

Old Japanese Hokkaido Folk Crafts Large Wood Carving Bear

$1,550

H 17.33 in W 37.41 in D 16.54 in

Old Japanese Hokkaido Folk Crafts Large Wood Carving Bear

Located in Niiza, JP

carving in Hokkaido Wooden carving bear It is said to have originated in Switzerland, and developed as an

Category

20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Figurine Sculpture Mingei

$720Sale Price|28% Off

H 5.52 in W 9.06 in D 5.91 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Figurine Sculpture Mingei

Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP

This is an old Japanese wooden carving of a bear, created in the mid‑Showa period (1950s–1970s

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

A Wooden Japanese Hokkaido Kibori Kuma Bear, Early 20th Century

$1,500

H 14.97 in W 21.26 in D 13 in

A Wooden Japanese Hokkaido Kibori Kuma Bear, Early 20th Century

Located in ARMADALE, VIC

-carved wooden bear from Hokkaido, Japan. While it bears a resemblance to Swiss Black Forest carvings

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Black Forest Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Asian Hand-Carved Walnut Bear Sculpture Signed

$575

H 7 in W 11.5 in D 5.25 in

Mid-Century Asian Hand-Carved Walnut Bear Sculpture Signed

Located in Dallas, TX

This expressive hand-carved walnut bear sculpture was crafted in Japan circa 1970. Sculpted from

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Animal Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Antique Japanese Wooden Carving of a Bear / Hokkaido / 20th Century / Showa Era

$700

H 8.12 in W 6.62 in D 5.44 in

Antique Japanese Wooden Carving of a Bear / Hokkaido / 20th Century / Showa Era

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

salmon on its back, is relatively unusual. While the image of a wooden bear commonly seen in Japan is a

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Animal Sculptures

Materials

Cypress

Huge Mid-Century Modern Ainu Japanese Style Bear Statue with Salmon Fish

$760

H 7.5 in W 11.25 in D 5.25 in

Huge Mid-Century Modern Ainu Japanese Style Bear Statue with Salmon Fish

Located in Nuernberg, DE

A 20th century Ainu Japanese style bear statue, wood carved. Nice addition to your room or just for

Category

Vintage 1970s German Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Recent Sales

Japanese Huge Old Hand-Carved Wooden Bear, Ainu People

Sold

H 18 in W 30 in D 12 in

Japanese Huge Old Hand-Carved Wooden Bear, Ainu People

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old handmade and hand-carved large-scale wooden carving of a bear Higuma, cryptomeria

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Large Antique Hand made Hand carved Bear and Salmon

Sold

H 19 in W 15 in D 8 in

Japanese Large Antique Hand made Hand carved Bear and Salmon

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old hand made and hand carved large-scale wooden carving of a bear Higuma grasping a

Category

Vintage 1970s Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wooden Ainu Bear Japan 1950s Hokkaido Kibori Kuma

Sold

H 7.49 in W 11.03 in D 6.3 in

Hand Carved Wooden Ainu Bear Japan 1950s Hokkaido Kibori Kuma

Located in Stow on the Wold, GB

A wonderful carved wooden bear from the Hokkaido region. Hand carved by the Ainu people

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Figurine Sculpture Mingei

Sold

H 5.12 in W 5.52 in D 4.73 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Figurine Sculpture Mingei

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old Japanese wood carving of a bear. It is a wood carving from the mid-Showa period

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Bear Family Climbing Tree, Old Japan Handcrafted Sculpture, Mint and Signed

Sold

H 19 in W 17 in D 7 in

Bear Family Climbing Tree, Old Japan Handcrafted Sculpture, Mint and Signed

Located in South Burlington, VT

Mint and Signed Japanese fine old handmade and hand-carved large-scale wooden carving of a bear

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Agate Bear

Sold

H 3 in W 4 in D 2 in

Agate Bear

Located in Somis, CA

A beautiful hand-carved bear sculpture, crafted from natural agate, showcasing a soft interplay of

Category

2010s Japanese Animal Sculptures

Materials

Agate

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear / Wooden Figurine / 1950-1970s / Wabi-Sabi Mingei

Sold

H 4.73 in W 7.49 in D 4.34 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear / Wooden Figurine / 1950-1970s / Wabi-Sabi Mingei

Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture

This is an old wood-carved bear that has been naturally weathered over a long time. It is thought

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Primitive Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Old Super Large Bear 1950s-1970s / Wood Carving Sculpture Mingei

Sold

H 25.6 in W 39.38 in D 21.66 in

Japanese Old Super Large Bear 1950s-1970s / Wood Carving Sculpture Mingei

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old Japanese super large wooden carved bear. It is a wood carving from the mid-Showa

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Old Wood Carving Large Bear 1920s-1940s/Sculpture Mingei Object

Sold

H 14.57 in W 23.63 in D 15.36 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Large Bear 1920s-1940s/Sculpture Mingei Object

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a large Japanese wooden carved bear. It is popular as a folk art mainly in Hokkaido. We

Category

Vintage 1920s Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Pair Hand Carved Wood Bears

Sold

H 6.5 in W 5 in D 4 in

Japanese Pair Hand Carved Wood Bears

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old handmade and hand carved pair wooden carvings of bears "Higuma" carrying their

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Pair Carved Bears and Salmon

Sold

H 6.5 in W 5 in D 4 in

Japanese Pair Carved Bears and Salmon

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old handmade and hand carved pair wooden carvings of bears "Higuma" carrying their

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Big Hand-Carved Bear with Salmon Catch

Sold

H 29 in W 19 in D 8 in

Japanese Big Hand-Carved Bear with Salmon Catch

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old handmade and hand-carved large-scale wooden carving of a bear Higuma grasping a

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Old Japanese wooden carved bear/animal figurine/Showa era

Sold

H 8.67 in W 15.75 in D 10.04 in

Old Japanese wooden carved bear/animal figurine/Showa era

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a wooden bear, likely made during the Showa era in Japan. The industry of carving wooden

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Huge Hand-Carved Wooden Bear with Salmon, Ainu People

Sold

H 16 in W 26 in D 16 in

Japanese Huge Hand-Carved Wooden Bear with Salmon, Ainu People

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old handmade and hand-carved large-scale wooden carving of a bear Higuma grasping a

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Bears Fine PAIR Hand-Carved Cedar Wood Grasping Salmon Ainu

Sold

H 4 in W 8.5 in D 4 in

Japanese Bears Fine PAIR Hand-Carved Cedar Wood Grasping Salmon Ainu

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japanese fine old handmade and hand-carved pair wooden carvings of a bear Higuma grasping salmon

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Japan Mid Century Modern Ainu Japanese Bear, Higuma and Salmon Fish

Sold

H 11 in W 17 in D 10 in

Japan Mid Century Modern Ainu Japanese Bear, Higuma and Salmon Fish

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japan, fine old medium scale carving of a bear, Higuma, grasping a salmon fish, carved by the Ainu

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Sculpture Wabisabi

Sold

H 7.49 in W 11.42 in D 5.91 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Bear 1950s-1970s / Sculpture Wabisabi

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a large carved wooden bear made in Japan. It is estimated to have been made between 1950s

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Primitive Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Old Wood Carving Large Bear 1963's / Sculpture Mingei

Sold

H 10.63 in W 17.33 in D 9.85 in

Japanese Old Wood Carving Large Bear 1963's / Sculpture Mingei

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old large Japanese wood carving of a bear. It is carved on the back side of the paw that

Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Showa Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Hand-Carved Wooden Black Forest Bear

Sold

H 11.82 in W 11.82 in D 8.27 in

Hand-Carved Wooden Black Forest Bear

Located in Antwerp, BE

Hand-carved wooden black forest bear, Japan, 1930s. Measures: Height 30 cm. width 30 cm. depth

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Old Japanese Hokkaido Folk Crafts Large Wood Carving Sitting Bear

Sold

H 17.33 in W 14.18 in D 14.57 in

Old Japanese Hokkaido Folk Crafts Large Wood Carving Sitting Bear

Located in Niiza, JP

KG Wood carving from Hokkaido Wooden carved bear It is said to have originated in Switzerland, and

Category

20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Hand-Carved Wooden Black Forest Bear

Sold

H 11.82 in W 11.82 in D 6.3 in

Hand-Carved Wooden Black Forest Bear

Located in Antwerp, BE

Hand-carved wooden black forest bear.

Category

Vintage 1930s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Japan Antique Big Party Loving Sexy Bear Tanuki, 19th century

Sold

H 44 in W 20 in D 20 in

Japan Antique Big Party Loving Sexy Bear Tanuki, 19th century

Located in South Burlington, VT

Japan, this rare museum quality one-of-a-kind big belly stone bear (actually a Folk Art hero

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Architectural Models

Materials

Stone

Japanese Folk Art Antique Party Loving Sexy Bear Tanuki, 1920's

Sold

H 7.75 in W 4.5 in D 5 in

Japanese Folk Art Antique Party Loving Sexy Bear Tanuki, 1920's

Located in Douglas Manor, NY

1195 Japan, this rare hand carved one of a kind big belly hardwood bear(actually a Folk Art hero

Category

Vintage 1920s Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Hardwood

Old huge wooden carving of a bear from Hokkaido, Japan/Late 20th century

Sold

H 17.52 in W 27.68 in D 16.54 in

Old huge wooden carving of a bear from Hokkaido, Japan/Late 20th century

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

carved as an art piece. The bear itself measures approximately 70 cm in width, 42 cm in depth, and 44 cm

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Japanese Carved Bear

Sold

H 5.5 in W 10 in D 5.5 in

Japanese Carved Bear

Located in San Francisco, CA

Vintage Japanese carved wood bear carrying a salmon in his mouth. Hand carved by the Ainu

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Sculptures

Materials

Cedar

Carved Bear

Sold

H 9 in W 15 in D 7 in

Carved Bear

Located in San Francisco, CA

Antique Japanese hand carved bear. Hand carved by the Ainu (indigenous peeople of Japan) from the

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Decorative Objects

Japanese Wood Bear

Sold

H 6 in W 10.5 in D 5.5 in

Japanese Wood Bear

Located in San Francisco, CA

Vintage Japanese carved wood bear carrying a salmon in his mouth. Hand carved by the Ainu

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Folk Art Sculptures

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Wood Bear

Sold

H 10 in W 18.5 in D 9.5 in

Japanese Wood Bear

Located in San Francisco, CA

Vintage Japanese carved wood bear carrying a salmon in his mouth. Hand-carved by the Ainu

Category

Vintage 1920s Japanese More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture

Asian Art and Furniture Under $1,000

Antique and Vintage Asian Art and Furniture

20th Century Asian Art and Furniture

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Japanese Carved Bears For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of Japanese carved bears is available at 1stDibs. The range of distinct Japanese carved bears — often made from wood, cedar and stone — can elevate any home. Japanese carved bears have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. Japanese carved bears are generally popular furniture pieces, but Mid-Century Modern style is often sought at 1stDibs.

How Much are Japanese Carved Bears?

The average selling price for at 1stDibs is $760, while they’re typically $88 on the low end and $8,500 highest priced.

Questions About Japanese Carved Bears

What is Japanese wood carving?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Japanese wood carving is an art form in which artists produce intricate figurines and other objects by cutting and shaping blocks of zelkova, camphor or paulownia wood. In Japanese, the artwork is known as inami. Find a selection of Japanese wood carvings on 1stDibs.