Carved Nephrite Jade Bear with Salmon Figurine, Pacific Northwest

Carved from a single block of dark nephrite jade, this pocket-sized figurine depicts a bear mid-stride, head dropped, a salmon locked in its jaws. The carver read the stone well — the bear's body holds the deep, near-black green of the raw material, brought to a high gloss across the rounded haunches and shoulders, while the salmon emerges in a distinctly brighter, translucent apple green that catches light along the tail and split fins. The tonal shift between bear and fish isn't paint or inlay; it's the natural color variation of the same stone, exploited with deliberate skill. Incised detail defines the bear's eyes, nostrils, and rounded ears; scored lines suggest scales along the fish's flank.

The lowered-head, mid-stride posture is the classic pose of a bear working a salmon run — a motif with deep roots in Pacific Northwest carving traditions, particularly among British Columbia craftsmen working nephrite from the Fraser and Cassiar regions. The execution here is confident and unhurried: the forms are fully realized, the polish even and deep, and the composition reads cleanly from every angle.

CONDITION

Good. A small, faint imperfection to the bear's left paw, visible only on close examination. Polished surfaces remain glossy throughout with no chips, cracks, or repairs noted elsewhere.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 2 1/4" H × 2" W × 3" D
• Weight: 231 grams
• Material: Carved nephrite jade
• Markings: Unmarked
• U.S. Quarter (24mm) Shown for Scale — Not Included