Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Ancestor Board (Gope), 20th Century Gulf of Papua, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia …
Ancestor Board (Gope)
Ancestor Board (Gope), 20th Century Gulf of Papua, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia …
Ancestor Board (Gope), 20th Century Gulf of Papua, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia Wood and pigment; 33 5/8 × 5 1/2 × 1/4 in. L.2010.4.43 Loan courtesy of Gayle and Edward P. Roski

Ancestor Board (Gope)

ClassificationsSculpture
Date20th Century
Made AtGulf Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumWood and pigment
Dimensions33 5/8 × 5 1/2 × 1/4 in. (85.4 × 14 × 0.6 cm)
Credit LineLoan courtesy of Gayle and Edward P. Roski
Object numberL.2010.4.43
DescriptionThis ancestor board, the vernacular name for which is Gope, comes from the Gulf of Papua in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea and it dates to the 20th century. The figures carved on gope boards are imbued with secret knowledge revealed only to the initiated. Kept in the Spirit House, the boards are placed among other carvings and the skulls of ancestors. Serving as temporary vessels for the ancestors to occupy, they also bring fortune to those who carry out headhunting raids.
On View
On view
Ancestor Board (Gope), c. 1915 Kerewa culture; Goaribari Island, Papuan Gulf, Gulf Province, P…
Ancestor Board (Gope)
Kerewa
c. 1915
Charm (Marupai) in Bag, early 20th century Elema culture; Kerema area, Gulf Province, Papua Ne…
Charm (Marupai) in Bag
Elema
early 20th Century
Door Board (Amitung), 1920-1930 Telefolmin culture; Telefolmin village, Star Mountains, Sandau…
Door Board (Amitung)
Telefolmin
1920-1930
Door Board (Amitung), 20th Century Telefolmin culture; Telefolmin village, Star Mountains, San…
Door Board (Amitung)
Telefolmin
20th Century
Funerary Figure, mid 20th Century probably Iatmul culture; Middle Sepik River Region, New Guin…
Ancestor Figure
Iatmul
mid 20th Century
Over-Modeled Skull, 20th Century Iatmul culture; Kaminibit, Middle Sepik area, East Sepik Prov…
Over-Modeled Skull
Iatmul
20th Century
Male Funerary Figure, 20th Century Iatmul culture; Middle Sepik River region, East Sepik Provi…
Ancestor Figure
Iatmul
20th Century
Board for Making Grass Skirts, mid 20th Century Massim culture; Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay P…
Board for Making Grass Skirts
Massim
mid 20th Century
Over-Modeled Skull, 20th Century Iatmul culture; Middle Sepik River region, East Sepik Provinc…
Over-Modeled Skull
Iatmul
20th Century
Shield (Worrumbi), 1950-1969 Mendi culture; Upper Mendi Valley, Southern Highlands Province, P…
Shield (Wörrumbi)
Mendi
1950-1969
Cradleboard, early to mid 20th Century Jemez; New Mexico, United States of America Hide, wood…
Cradle Board
Jemez
early to mid 20th Century
Ancestor Spirit Figure (Maira), early to mid 20th Century Abelam culture; Sepik River region, …
Ancestor Figure (Maira)
Wosera Abelam
early to mid 20th Century
eMuseum
Copyright © eMuseum