Oceanic Gope Carved Ancestor Spirit Board, Papua New Guinea

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An Oceanic "Gope" Papuan ancestral spirit board, 20th century, collected from the Gulf Province, Papua, New Guinea, Kerewa or Hohao … Read more An Oceanic "Gope" Papuan ancestral spirit board, 20th century, collected from the Gulf Province, Papua, New Guinea, Kerewa or Hohao village tribe.

Hand-carved and polychrome painted using only primitive tools and pigments to create red ochre, lime to whiten and black from soot. The ritual sculpture was likely carved from an old canoe, if crafted at wartime, the remains of an enemy's canone were preferred. Having an elliptical oblong plank form, with low relief carvings of symbolic geometric and figural images representing an ancestral hero throughout.

The boards are believed to protect the island clansmen from evil spirits and death. Tribes had communal men's house, divided into cubicles, each allotted to a particular clan or sub clan. Each cubicle contained a clan shrine, which housed the spirit board, figures, and animal and human skulls and other sacred objects associated with the clan.

During headhunting missions the boards are consulted as to which enemy to attack and the ancestors spirit was thought to go in advance of the warriors to sap the enemies of their strength and power.

Accompanied by metal hanging stand. See less