Gope Board by Unknown artist

Being

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Making

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Gope Board

Gope Board

Artist

Unknown artist
Production Date

Unknown
Medium

wood, pigment
Size

1040 x 215 mm
Credit

Chartwell Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 1987
Accession Number

C1994/1/237
Accession Date

Dec 1987
Department

International Art
Classification

Object
Collection

Chartwell
Subjects

boards (flat objects), carvings
Chartwell Notes

Please note: We have been unable to obtain direct approval for this image but we acknowledge the original maker. If the copyright owner is able to contact us, we will immediately respond. Regards, Chartwell
Description

Gope, kwoi and hohao are all terms for the ancestor boards that are made around the northern Papuan gulf. It is considered that this spirit board was made by the Kerewa people of Goaribari Island.

The pair of eyes are under a widow’s peak design that leads down to the navel at the base of the carving. A feature of this area’s art is that the ancestor’s face is often the predominant subject. (Te Moananui a Kiwa, 2005)