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Gope (Ancestor board)

Kerewa people, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea
Gope (Ancestor board)
 (c. 1950)

Medium
natural pigments on wood

Measurements
213.5 × 40.0 × 5.0 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Gabrielle Pizzi, Governor, 2001

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Kerewa village, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea

Accession Number
2001.161

Department
Pacific Art

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation

Physical description
The oval-shaped gope board bears a raised relief design that has been painted in black with the sunken ground painted in white and a range of pinks. The figure on the board is carved in a style characteristic to those of Kerewa. Gope boards are regarded as protective beings that ward off sickness and other illnesses.

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