In Finnish folklore, forest spirits give the bear its teeth and claws. This poem appears in the Finnish epic Kalevala:





Sacred Otso grew and flourished,

Quickly grew with graceful movements,

Short of feet, with crooked ankles,

Wide of mouth and broad of forehead,

Short his nose, his fur-robe velvet;

But his claws were not well fashioned,

Would be not abuse the favor.'





Read more about Finnish folklore and the background of Tero's art on Tiina Porthan's and Tero Porthan's sites:

Neither were his teeth implanted.Fair Mielikki, forest hostess,Spake these words in meditation:'Claws I should be pleased to give him,And with teeth endow the wonder, finnishshamans.wordpress.com/ (in English)