Emile Bluteau " Man and His Bear" Canadian Folk Art Sculpture Chinese canton The platter measures 15" in

The platter measures 15" in diameter and 1 1/4" tall

I really love the smiling faces on these two and the way she seems to lean a bit against him

2 1/2" wide

I just love the linear patterns and texture created by the painstakingly cut and laid matchsticks

Emile Bluteau " Man and His Bear" Canadian Folk Art Sculpture Chinese canton The platter measures 15" inIt seems quite Canadian that it should be a black bear rather than a dog that our man here is so lovingly patting, and the French title "L'Homme avec son ours" (Man with his bear) written on the underside perfectly articulates the best friend status of this particular bear! It's the wonderful work of Emile Bluteau (1931 ?), a well known Quebecois folk artist, who began carving in the late 70s, first birds and then "the human condition in all its moods