Country: Baimuru, Papuan Gulf, PNG Description: Ritual boards represent spirits which protect clans from sickness, evil spirits, and death. Also, warriors are awarded gope boards for each act of bravery they perform in battle (often made out of the enemies canoe). These gope boards vary in size, but can be up to six feet long and have a consistent elliptical shape. They are carved in relief and then painted with lime(white) and red ochre and other native paints. Most gope boards have a similar style and depict the face of an ancestral spirit. Gope boards are also used in raids on other clans and headhunting missions. They are consulted as to which enemy to attack, and the spirits contained in the boards are thought to go ahead of the warriors to sap the enemies of their strength. Fastened to the back is a wire strip made to hang the piece on the wall. Dimensions: 39 1/2" height x 7" width x 1" depth
