Sevokhi, a cult object: Bear’s image (“mafa”)

Oroche

Ussuri Krai, river Samarga, village Makhtukhu

late 19th - early 20th century

Wood; glass: colored glass

length 31.0; width 5.5

РЭМ 1870-45

Sevokhi mafa, a shamanic cult object. It is an image of a bear standing on four paws. The bear’s neck has a hole. The shaman made the bear figurine for himself. The bear symbolized the shaman’s strong helper ghost who is good for illnesses, and in hunting, and during shaman initiation.