Ainu Pouch
Collected in late 1800s or early 1900s
Bearskin, vine
22 cm tall, 13.5 cm wide
Cat. 132499
© The Field Museum
This bearskin pouch was collected by Robert H. Baker and donated to The Field Museum in 1912. It was probably collected in Hokkaido sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s. It was most likely used during hunting outings to carry important items.
The case of the pouch is made out of three pieces of wood and is covered by a large piece of bearskin. A cord of vines is attached to the bearskin in order to tie the covering shut, protecting the items inside. The lack of a carrying strap, its size, and examples of bearskin pouches in other collections suggest that it might have been connected to the bottom part of a quiver (seen here).
Pouches such as these would carry spare arrowheads, extra poison (explained here), a mixing bowl, and a fire-starting kit. These fire-starting kits would contain a piece of metal (usually a piece of a broken pot or knife), a quartz stone, and some kindling composed of flammable fungus and charcoal.
(Commentary by Stev Weidlich)