Ancestor board "gope" or "kaiaimunu" ·  Papua New Guinea - Golf - Goaribari Island, Kerewa · ID: 3040144

Description

wood, brown patina, red and white pigment, the figure of an ancestor spirit in the centre, notched decor along rim and asymmetrical spiral ornamentes to the right, slightly dam., small traces of insect caused damage, water spots, metal base;

Before a battle warriors sat in silence in front of the spirit board and with the use of magic involved its assistance in the fight to come. When the ritual was over the shell trumpets were blown and the leader gave out his orders.

The object Ancestor board “gope” or “kaiaimunu” with the object ID 3040144 was last part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction at February 27, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 44 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000.

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Comparing literature

Hamson, Michael, Red Eye of the Sun, Los Angeles 2010, p. 33