Collection: Guy Spilers/Rene Van den Berghe (further information below)

Price on Request

Very rare sacred flute mask With incurved hook, traces of pigment and old wear. Beautifully cared and smooth patina from handling, an old collection label to the reverse. Throughout New Guinea, a number of villages worked in what is known as the opposed-hooks style to adorn sacred figures, in which curved and pointed hooks are arranged on a vertical axis around a central design element. New Guinea, Middle Ramu and Upper Keram Rivers Basin, near Guam River entry, Misingi Village, Romkun culture, ca. mid-20th century. This is a rare and unique one of a kind Sacred Flute Mask with beautiful patina and would be a wonderful addition to your collection. This is a stunning collectors piece.

Close friends, Rene Vanden Berghe and Guy Spilers found themselves living a life of adventure they sought out and embraced. Born in Belgium just prior to WWII, they spent their youth under German occupation. After the war, the adventures continued with National Service in 1953-54 serving in an elite battalion: the para-commando platoon. After military service was over, Rene studied tropical agriculture and used a government grant to start a coffee plantation in the Belgian Congo where he only escaped by “the skin of his teeth” when he had to flee during the Lumumba Insurrection in 1961. He and Guy then emigrated to Australia where they secured employment as overseers for the Catholic Church Mission in New Ireland – running a plantation from 1962-72. Their knowledge, diligence and military training saw the plantation prosper despite tribal fights, earthquakes, riots and the occasional confrontation with axe and knife-wielding workers. Their practical skills were balanced by a love of art, photography and travel. A talented amateur photographer, Rene left an extensive collection of photographs of their experiences and travels. After leaving the plantation they traveled throughout Melanesia, French Polynesia and Micronesia, Europe, Asia and South America before settling in Nambour on the Sunshine Coast. They collected tribal art pieces throughout their travels to inspire Rene’s love of painting and sculpture.

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- Pictures make up part of the description -