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Handicraft /Souvenirs, Papua New Guinea

Enrico Salte

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One of the many pleasant surprises of Papua New Guinea is the wide range of art forms in diverse styles. Among the many tempting souvenirs you will encounter are:-
ˇ Bilums - string bags made from natural fibre.
ˇ Masks - woven from cane or rattan: made of wood and clay and decorated with shells, hair and pig's teeth or incise with brown and white patterns and finished in glossy black.
ˇ Wooden bowls - bowls fashioned from prized local timbers, including ebony. Carved walking sticks, stools and tables are often inlaid with mother of pearl.
ˇ Baskets/Trays - Many different patterns and styles can be found. Those from Bouganville are regarded as some of the finest in the Pacific.
ˇ Drums - the most common musical instrument in Papua New Guinea: those made from a hollow tree trunk are called Garamuts while the smaller Kundu is shaped like an hour glass and has snake or lizard skins sketched over one end.
ˇ Story Board - made on the Karam River, they illustrate in raised relief incidents of village life. ˇ Spirit Boards -act as guardians of the village with those from the Gulf Province believed to possess the spirits of powerful warriors.
We want to keep our cultural heritage intact, so items made before 1960 are restricted exports. National Museum Staff must inspect them before an export permit can be considered. Export of Bird of Paradise plumes as well as stone artifacts - except stone axes - is prohibited.