Legless Dagari Shrine Figure

Unusual, legless Dagari figure with subtly indicated Adam’s apple and navel. The figure is not a fragment and was obviously made this way, as indicated by the length of the neck/body, the relative prominence of the navel and the advanced erosion of the foot. The overall length of this Dagari is equal to those with legs, so it seems unlikely that the legs were lost. Dagari shrine figures honor a deceased male ancestor. It is said that in former times, the passing of a Dagari male who had achieved the status of a grandfather required that the eldest grandson should go to the forest and collect a forked tree or branch from which to carve a memorial figure with which to honor him. The figure would be installed in the family shrine and chicken blood, millet beer and other sacrifice offerings would be ritually applied.

27″

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