AINU PEOPLE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

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An elegantly carved wooden ikupasuy, the ceremonial stick used by the Ainu people of northern Japan in ritual offerings and prayers. The elongated, slender form is embellished with intricate geometric ornamentation, including bands of scale-like triangular motifs alternating with elongated chevron patterns. A raised, rounded rectangular panel at the center provides a distinctive focal point, its incised design echoing the surrounding decorative vocabulary. The rich, dark, lustrous surface accentuates the depth and precision of the carving, while the tapered terminal and carefully balanced composition lend the object a striking sculptural presence.
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An important ritual implement in Ainu spiritual life, the ikupasuy served as an intermediary through which prayers and libations were offered to the kamuy, the spiritual beings associated with the natural world. Both a functional ceremonial object and an expression of Ainu woodcarving artistry, this example is distinguished by its refined geometric decoration, sculptural detailing and deeply patinated surface.

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