Papuan Gulf Spirit Board 13
Keywords
Gope Board , Spirit Boards , Papua New Guinea , Daniel Munzert , James Wasserstrom
Abstract
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 squatting figure above radiating umbilical iconography, 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 board, though not as old as some of the others, is absolutely traditional, with a powerfully rendered human figure at the top – which is unusual; the lower part of the board, however, depicts classical umbilicus imagery.
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