Spirit Board

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Culture Kerewa

Title Spirit Board (Gope)

Date Late 19th century

Medium Wood and earth pigments

Dimensions Object: 62 3/8 × 13 1/4 × 3/8 in. (158.4 × 33.7 × 1 cm)
Overall: 62 3/8 x 13 1/4 x 3/8 in. (158.4 x 33.7 x 1 cm)

Credit Line Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 63.63

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About this Work

Within the Kerewa region spirit boards of this type often depict a skeletal figure with a large egg-shaped head. This example only depicts the head, a face surrounded by several concentric circles. The purpose of these boards was to be the dwelling place of the spirit that it depicts. These spirits were associated with a specific natural feature and linked with the clan of the owner.  

Provenance
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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Spirit Board | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=63.63