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A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection

About the Item

A rare Papua 'Gope' Spirit board from the Schulze Westrum collection New Guinea, Papua Gulf, probably Minagoiravi, Wapo River, late 19th–early 20th century H. 130 x W. 24.5 cm Provenance: Collected by German biologist and cinematographer Thomas Schulze-Westrum in circa 1959 Sammlung Rinck-Hollnberger, Munich (purchased the 1980s-1990s) In the late 1960s, German biologist and cinematographer Thomas Schultze-Westrum retraced the paths of early expeditions in the Gulf of Papua, including those of Frank Hurley in the 1920s and American writer John W. Vandercook in 1936. Throughout his visit, he saw the neglect of beliefs and customs in the region, remarking that the majority of worship artefacts had been incinerated, obliterated, interred, concealed in the forest or houses, and subjected to vermin and termites. Worried about safeguarding an endangered history, Schultze-Westrum amassed several artworks and meticulously recorded them to retain any fragments of knowledge remaining accessible among the populace at that time. Numerous significant pieces obtained during this period subsequently became integral to many private and museum collections worldwide.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 3.94 in (10 cm)Width: 9.45 in (24 cm)Depth: 51.19 in (130 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    late 19th/early 20th century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Amsterdam, NL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5458242044252

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