Gope and bioma are figurative representations of spirits. This sculpture is a brilliant fusion of both forms and is seen just left of center in the photograph by Thomas Schultze-Westrum. Another spirit board in the Tomkins Collection, TC 343 is also seen in the photograph.
Throughout the Papuan Gulf, sculptures in figurative and oval forms were made to attract spirits and provide a place for them to reside. Photographs of these arrangements inside men's houses were made by Paul B.de Rautenfeld in 1925 and Paul Wirz in 1930. Images by both ethnologists are included here.

Provenance:
Pierre Berge & Associés, Brussels 2007: lot 635
Galerie Kanaga, Paris
André Fourquet, Paris
John Friede,New York
Loed van Bussel, Amsterdam
Collected by Thomas Schultze-Westrum, 1950

Publishing History:
Thomas Schultze-Westrum. Neu Guinea. Papua-Urwelt im Aufbruch. Bern: Kümmerly & Frey Geographischer Verlag, 1972: figure 50.