Such oblong figures, with their boards coloured and with relief carvings on the front side, were placed or hanged in big Papuan men’s houses (for a more detailed explanation on the meaning of these ‘gope’ boards see cat. no. 193).
The present board originates from the Kerewa who live on the Goaribari island in the Papuan Gulf. It displays a typical relief of the mighty ancestor, warrior and hero ‘Kaikaimunu’ (or ‘Irivake’), who is especially important in helping during war or in battle as well as in guarding against illness and other misfortune. ‘Kaiaimunu’ were also any monster-constructs made of plaited rattan stripes into whose open mouths the young men needed to climb during initiations so as to then resurface. The ‘Kaiaimunu’ had engulfed them and birthed them anew as adults!
An impressive and typical ‘gope board’ with a deep and accomplished relief carving of a ‘Kaiaimunu figure’. Coloured black, red and white with earth pigments. The back is smooth and coloured black.
Apart from age-related colour scuffings in the white surfaces, no significant damage! Height: 166.5 cm; Width: c. 40 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Pursuant to information supplied by the consigner, purchased by Dr. Klaus Spiess in 1984 on the island of Goaribari, New Guinea, in the village of Tovei (private field photo available). Then: Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.:
'Ozeanische Kunst' by Anthony J. P. Meyer, ill. 102, p. 116; 'New Guinea Art' by Marcia & John Friede, ill. 466, 479; 'Art Papou', Musées de Marseille catalogue, ill. 179.