Ancestor board "gope" ·  Papua New Guinea - Gulf · ID: 3036479

Description

wood, remains of dark brown patina and white pigment, carved in flat relief, a stylized face in the centre, surrounded by toothed ornaments, characteristic form, unusual: carved with a kind of handle, old collection number “M 477” backside, drilled holes for attachment, slightly dam., minor missing parts, strong abrasion of paint, traces of insect caused damage backside, crack at the same place;
there has been some question as to what the boards actually represent - ancestor spirits or spirits of the bush. An Orokolo native himself stated that the principal function of a “gope” was to receive the magical “charge” of an ancestral spirit. It was told that spirits of such boards would go into battle with men who whorshipped it - both protecting them and causing confusion amongst the enemy. Furtheron the magical powers still had relevance to successful hunting. In any case they had a protective function and were kept in the mens houses.

The object Ancestor board “gope” with the object ID 3036479 was part of the auction 76th tribal art auction on March 22, 2014. The object with the lot number 48 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,400 with an asking price of EUR 4,000.

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Comparing literature

Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 123, ill. 110