{"product_id":"43-upper-sepik-ancestral-house-board-panel-washkuk-kwoma-papua-new-guinea-ron-perry-provenance-copy","title":"45\" Papuan Gulf Ancestral Spirit Gope Board | Urama Island, Papua New Guinea | Ron Perry Provenance","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e3363-005\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOffered for sale is an impressive 45-inch ancestral spirit board (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGope\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e) from Urama Island in the Papuan Gulf region of Papua New Guinea, acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection. Known traditionally as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGope\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKwoi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e boards, these deeply sacred and protective carvings were created by regional clans to represent the unique spirit of a revered ancestor or mythological hero. Kept inside communal men's houses, they utilized ancestral power to protect the village from illness, enemy raids, and malevolent entities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis powerful, large-scale example is hand-carved from a single piece of indigenous wood—historically sourced from the hull of a decommissioned war canoe—and features a stylized ancestral face integrated into fluid, symmetrical geometric bands. The shallow relief patterns are decorated with authentic natural earth pigments. The board was field-collected by Ron Perry, a globally renowned expert and one of the most respected Pacific tribal art authorities of the 20th century. Beginning his expeditions in 1964, Perry spent over 40 years traveling by canoe up remote waterways and trekking unmapped terrains to collect authentic pieces directly from traditional clans. His credibility in the field is unmatched: following Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975, the PNG National Cultural Council appointed him to manage Village Arts, their government-run indigenous artifact center. This is an outstanding display piece with excellent scale, a striking elliptical profile, and deep cultural character, making it an exceptional addition to any collection of Oceanic, ethnographic, or tribal art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eItem Details:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObject:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ancestral Spirit Board (\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGope\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \/ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKwoi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCulture:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Papuan Gulf Peoples (Urama Island style)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mid to Late 20th Century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 45\" H × 9.5\" W × 1.5\" D (114 × 24 × 4 cm)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Indigenous wood and natural earth pigments (lime, ochre, charcoal)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\" role=\"presentation\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition Note:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e This piece exhibits authentic, stable aging, beautiful native patination, and minor surface wear consistent with age and\/or traditional tribal use. Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis is available for local pick-up. Shipping can be available for this item. Please contact us for a custom quote or to make arrangements. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adventure Room","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44808397357149,"sku":"3363-005","price":749.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0673\/1222\/2301\/files\/3363_005a.jpg?v=1785266586","url":"https:\/\/theadventureroom.com\/products\/43-upper-sepik-ancestral-house-board-panel-washkuk-kwoma-papua-new-guinea-ron-perry-provenance-copy","provider":"Adventure Room","version":"1.0","type":"link"}