Carved Wood Frigatebird Figurine

This item is a small, hand-carved wooden figurine depicting a Great Frigatebird in a seated display posture. The piece is constructed from a lightweight wood and features a distinctive folk-art style. Its primary physical characteristic is the prominent, rounded red gular pouch at the breast, signifying a male bird in courtship. The body and head are finished in a matte black, while the mantle/wing area displays a wash of iridescent-style green and blue-green paint. The eyes are rendered as simple white dots with black pupils. The carving style is rustic with visible knife strokes at the tail and wings to represent feathering. Measuring approximately 3-4 inches in length, the item shows some signs of age-related wear, including minor paint loss and surface abrasions on the red pouch and beak. This type of souvenir or decorative folk art is often associated with coastal regions or specific island locales; given the provided context of Japan, it may represent a specific species found in the Ogasawara or southern islands. The overall craftsmanship is charmingly simplistic, likely dating from the mid-to-late 20th century.

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