Gohu Society memorial figure (kikango)

In this post the head comes a disc with a flattened lower edge, like a circle with one-eighth removed. This form is echoed in the shape of the incised eyes and to a lesser extent in the mouth. The head is separated from the neck and is carved on a slightly higher relief, a very unusual and subtle variation. Both sides of the torso above the waist are edged with two rows of inward pointing triangles, but carved as if they were two levels of slightly overlapping forms, causing an almost ripple effect. The umbilicus is marked with a dotted circle; and the waist notches have been made more rectilinear than usual. The extreme erosion at the bottom of the post implies a relatively early date of execution, as does the grayish patina and lichen stains.