Such oblong ‘gope boards’, coloured and with relief carvings on the front side, were placed by the men in the Papuan Gulf, on the southern coast of New Guinea, in big men’s houses, or hanged there (which is why most ‘gope’ boards have a hole at the tip). These relief boards have a cultic character and represent powerful ancestor spirits. There are big ‘gope’ boards for entire Papuan clans and smaller boards belonging to individual warriors. The heroes and ancestors depicted aid the owners in their hunting, in war and previously, in the now-defunct head-hunting. They play a role during initiations and offer overall protection from illness and misfortune.
The present ‘gope’ board from the Gulf of Papua is especially beautifully and carefully executed. Its wood comes from an old dugout, a war boat that had become unfit for use. This can be seen from the darkly patinated stripes on the back of this ‘gope’ board. Wood from old war boats is gladly used for ‘gope’ boards in Papua, as it lends the cultic object particular strength and power (from olden times).
The front side of this ‘gope' presents the figure of the powerful, mythical hero and ancestor 'Irivake'. In deep relief, carved very beautifully and carefully in detail, and originally with earth colours: black, red (faded) and white. With age-related colour scuffing. Height: 162 cm; Width: 43 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Pursuant to information supplied by the consigner, purchased by Viennese doctor and traveller Dr. Klaus Spiess in 1980 in Port Moresby, New Guinea. Then: Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.:
'New Guinea Art' by Marcia & John Friede, ill. 458 to 469; 'Melanesien. Schwarze Inseln der Südsee', Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum für Völkerkunde catalogue, Köln, ill. 260, 261.