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Gope Board

Large Oceanic Gope Carved Wooden Ancestor Spirit Board
Located in Forney, TX
An Oceanic "Gope" Papuan ancestral spirit board, 20th century, collected from the Gulf Province
Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Metal

A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection New Guinea, Papua Gulf
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection New Guinea, Papua Gulf
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection New Guinea, Papua Gulf
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Recent Sales

Papuan Gulf Gope Board from New Guinea Africa
Located in Milford, NH
This board is Central Papuan Gulf style with white designs against a red ground with black
Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Oceanic "Gope" Ancestor Spirit Board
Located in New York, NY
#V020 - Oceanic "Gope" carved wooden ancestor spirit board, Ara River, Papua New Guinea. These
Category

20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Decorative Art

Ex Museum Morton May Papua New Guinea Gulf River Spirit Board Gope Tribal Art
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Papuan Gulf ancestor spirit board, called Gope, early 20th century. Wood with natural pigments and
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Art

Materials

Wood, Paint

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Finding the Right Folk Art for You

Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.

American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.

During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.

Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.