Delta dedicates the 7th
Indigenous People collection
to the Legendary Ainu of
Japan’s Northernmost Island,
Hokkaido
Ainu, (pronounced, “I –
NOO”) means “Mankind” in the
Ainu language. The men
let their hair and beards grow
to unusually long lengths. The
women tattoo their
lips and forearms to prevent
evil spirits from entering
their bodies.
Physically, Ainu features are
Caucasian. They are larger
than their ethnic
Japanese neighbors.
The Ainu especially revered
The Bear, a hunter/fisher like
themselves. They
produced artistic tributes to
Nature & Man that are
highly treasured by museums
and collectors alike. The
Dutch Sailor, Maerten Vries
first discovered them in
1643.
Because of intermarriage,
migration, and other
influences, it is believed
that only a few 100 or so Pure
Ainu survive today. Delta pays
tribute to one of
the most unique cultures that
the World has ever known with
Ainu, the 1st of
Indigenous People Series 3.
CLIP: Sterling Silver OR
Vermeil;
3-dimensional “Nipopo” (wooden
baby)
NIB: 18kt solid gold nib;
customized and engraved with a
“Tamasay” a
ceremonial glass bead necklace
passed from
generation-to-generation by Ainu
women
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