39" Papuan Gulf Ancestral Spirit Gope Board | Urama Island, Papua New Guinea | Ron Perry Provenance

3363-006

Offered for sale is an impressive 39-inch ancestral spirit board (Gope) from Urama Island in the Papuan Gulf region of Papua New Guinea, acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection. Known traditionally as Gope or Kwoi 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.

This 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 bold, highly stylized ancestral face flanked by striking concentric eye motifs. The lower half displays a prominent ribbed skeletal motif, while the upper register is finished with dramatic serrated borders. The deeply incised, 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.

Item Details:

• Object: Ancestral Spirit Board (Gope / Kwoi)

• Culture: Papuan Gulf Peoples (Urama Island style)

• Region: Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

• Period: Mid to Late 20th Century

• Dimensions: 39.5" H × 10.25" W × 1.5" D (100 × 26 × 4 cm)

• Materials: Indigenous wood and natural earth pigments (lime, ochre, charcoal)

• Provenance: Acquired directly from the Ron Perry Arizona Room collection

• Condition Note: 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.

This is available for local pick-up. Shipping can be available for this item. Please contact us for a custom quote or to make arrangements.