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Spirit board, Gope, C-14 dating: 1520–1810 (95.4% probability)
Wood, pigment
150 x 49 x 9 cm (59 1/16 x 19 5/16 x 3 9/16 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.326

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Collected by Thomas Schultze-Westrum in 1966." (Catalog #458, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 161.) PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "This board was carved from the hull of a war canoe, a tradition that conveyed particular strength to the spirits depicted. Gope were displayed in a village men's house and represented powerful spirits or mythical ancestors who were associated with warfare and headhunting. They had the magical capacity of helping the warriors in their group by making them invisible while also weakening the enemy. Gope with two faces are rare. This one was photographed in a ceremonial house at Aimei village in the 1930s by John Vandercook. He was negotiating to acquire artifacts, but apparently this gope was not for sale." (Catalog #458, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 161.) 1937 - Vandercook, 1937: 232.

Related Keywords
Gope board Spirit Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 161 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 458 Catalog 1966 Westrum Schultze Thomas by Collected dialect Gibaio speakers language Kiwai northeastern village Aimei Oceania Province Gulf Guinea New Papua Melanesia object Ritual pigment Wood 0709200406050409 A363454 L05.1.326 AOA