A remarkable Ainu Shishi-bear mask covered in genuine hair with glass eyes made for traditional festival dance performance. It is made of paper, dry-lacquer, paint, animal hair and features glass eyes. A unique contraption inside the head allows the eyes to move from side to side. Roughly the mask is 33 x 19 x 21 cm (13 x 7-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches) and is in excellent condition, enclosed in an old age darkened wooden box. This is an unprecedented opportunity to acquire a unique piece of Ainu culture.
For a similar mask see the last photo, published in the book Garakuta Bijutsu (1975, Figure 27) titled Ainu Soshingu (Ainu accessories); a copy of the book page is included.
