Papuan Gulf Spirit Boards
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Item Papuan Gulf Spirit Board 3(2016-10-03)Gope Board of classical form, made from a slightly bowed piece of hardwood, possibly the bottom or gunwale of a war canoe; and carved in relief with depictions of a central face with rising liner geometric patterning in classical style for the region. Originally from the area between the Era River, Purari Delta and Urama region. The board shows age and use, with pigments in dark red, black and white. This board is perhaps later in style than some but completely traditional. The motifs are thought to represent skeletal imagery.Item Papuan Gulf Spirit Board 20(2016-10-04)Gope Board of classical form, made from a slightly bowed piece of hardwood, possibly the bottom or gunwale of a war canoe; and carved in relief with depictions of a central face with curling motifs above and below in classical style for the region. Originally from the area between the Era River, Purari Delta and Urama region. The board shows age and use, with pigments in red, black and white. This fine board presents a classical Wapo Creek area face in the center of the board with stylized bodies above and below, thus almost referring to a Janus-like quality depicted two-dimensionally. The style is of a type seen in historical images from the 1930s.Item Papuan Gulf Spirit Board 5(2016-10-03)Gope Board of classical form, made from a slightly bowed piece of hardwood, possibly the bottom or gunwale of a war canoe; and carved in relief with depictions of a figure with sinuous limbs in classical style for the region. Originally from the area between the Era River, Purari Delta and Urama region. The board shows age and use, with pigments in brick-red, black and white. This fine board displays a classical Central Gulf style face with sinuous limbs above a stylized lower portion that may be a part of the same figure or a zoomorphic totem. The umbilicus may here be represented at the top of the board – such deconstruction of anatomy was not uncommon.Item Papuan Gulf Spirit Board 8(2016-10-03)Gope Board of unusual form, made from an old canoe paddle and carved in relief with depictions of a spirit face and linear patterns in classical style for the region. Originally from the area between the Era River, Purari Delta and Urama region. The board shows age and use, with pigments in brown, black and white. This particular example is similar to one in the Tomkins collection, also made from an old canoe paddle blade. These are quite rare and, though narrow, were probably made to venerate the original owner of the paddle in death.Item Papuan Gulf Spirit Board 7(2016-10-03)Gope Board of classical form, made from a slightly bowed piece of hardwood, possibly the bottom or gunwale of a war canoe; and carved in relief with depictions of a figure in segmented form, in classical style for the region. Originally from the area between the Era River, Purari Delta and Urama region. The board shows age and use, with pigments in brick-red, black and white. This fine old board depicts a spirit in segmented form; the top being the head with classical inverted “Y” shaped white facial painting; the central panel being the umbilicus and the lower portion being the limbs. This is a fine example of powerful Papuan Gulf carving.