Raku Ceramic Hand-Sculpted Long Legged Brown Bear master weaving The proportions are wonderful

The proportions are wonderful

25 tall and just short of 3

this very fine Northwest Coast Salish tightly coiled lidded basket dates I believe from the late 19th or early 20th century

but it wonderful just on its own as a gorgeous sculptural object

with one spot of wear on the leather case

Raku Ceramic Hand-Sculpted Long Legged Brown Bear master weaving The proportions are wonderfulWhat a bear! (The tail and the ears make me believe it is a bear, though there has been a bit of debate here about whether it might be a dog. Either way, and despite being made of clay, I just want to snuggle up with it!) I love its tall, wide trunk like legs, making it feel massive despite its diminutive size, its rough texture, and its rusty brown color animated with drippy black veins, produced by Raku firing. All make it feel both specific and