Vintage Hand-Crafted Hawaiian Madame Pele "Fire Goddess" Koa Wood 12" Statute

Description

This mid-century Hawaiian hand-carved wood statue has been set on top of our tallest bookshelf in the "Hawaii" family room for the past 15-20 years.  We found it in a military retiree's estate sale
along with several other Hawaiian items that we recognized from Hawaii during the 1960-70's specifically and went back several times as each time we uncovered other items that we rescued...for our Maui guest room as well as the family room.
It is not unlike the work of Paul Fujimoto the proprietor of Wood Carvings of Hawaii in Kalihi except that it is unsigned but for a penciled "8" on the bottom.  It is likely salvaged wood from a fire or burnt piece of driftwood from either source would account for the worm/termite holes and two burnt branch ends that can be seen.  Madame Pele is the also known as the "Fire Goddess" and this statute with its goddess-like countenance and two charred wood branches would be the first impression.  For us the Japanese aesthetics
of
wabi-sabi
(acceptance of transience and imperfection)
in this distressed wooden statue appealed to us as we had learned to appreciate such objects during our tour in Tokyo in the 1980s. The statue measures 12" high; 6.75" wide at base to tip of the burnt branch; has 3-3.5" caliber main limb; and weighs 1lbs, 7ozs.  Believe to be koa wood because of its blond-reddish appearance, more susceptible to termites than either milo or monkey pod woods, and the cracks, defects and imperfections are like those often found in koa wood, and would be readily found after a lava flow or on the beach as driftwood on the Big Island particularly.  All
pictures pictures were taken in a camera tent except for the last two as one is a computer scan at 400 dpi of the statute base that resembles the Island of Maui and the other a screenshot from the internet.  Will answer all questions promptly.  Shipment will be by USPS Priority mail, insured and tracking provided or an equivalent shipper and service with the buyer's consent.