PAPUA NEW GUINEA ARTIFACTS

Papua New Guinea offer a wide range of art and artifacts. Visit our sister website http://pnghandcrafts.8k.com to view the range available. When visiting village areas it is possible to acquire higher quality yet cheaper artifacts than those purchased through outlets in the towns. It is not usual to "bargain" with PNG craftsmen as one might do with an Asian street seller. Most PNG craftsmen ask a fair price for their pieces. If you feel the price for an item is unrealistic, demonstrate your interest and indicate subtly that the price is a problem. Then take your leave. If the craftsman runs after you with a better price, you have a deal. If he does not run after you then he has chosen to stick to his price and wait for another customer.

The best place to buy artifacts in Port Moresby is "PNG Art", in Spring Garden Road. You will need a vehicle to get there and carry your spoils away: they have a very big range. There is also a smaller outlet called "Beyond Art" opposite the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Town. They have a nice range of PNG-style clothing there too. There is a handicraft market outside the front gate of the Holiday Inn (off Waigani Drive) which usually has mainly paintings and baskets, and another handicraft market in Tabari Place behind the Boroko bus stop which usually has a good range of shell necklaces and bilums.

The last Saturday morning of every month there is a big artifact and crafts market at the Ela Beach International School in Town. On these occasions it is possible to buy items not normally seen at other outlets and markets around Port Moresby. Get there early, by 8am.

When in Lae you will find handicrafts for sale outside the Best Buy Supermarket in the town centre but the best range is at the "Melanesian Art Centre" located at the old airport, just below the town centre. In Madang there is a good range of artifacts in the carver's hut at the Madang Resort Hotel and also at the town market. "Paradise Arts" is an outlet in Kimbe.

In Goroka, there is a good artifacts and crafts market next to the police station.

When purchasing artifacts be mindful of the fact that many pieces contain animal matter (feathers, bone, skin, teeth etc) and some countries especially Australia and New Zealand have quite strict regulations against importing these items.

Cultural shows and festivals are good opportunities to buy artifacts and traditional costume pieces (known as "bilas"). At the end of the festival, after all the dances have been done, performers will often sell off their costumes and props before returning home. The Mt Hagen Show, Goroka Show, Enga Show, Morobe Show, and the National Mask and Tumbuan Festival (usually held in Rabaul) are all good opportunities to pick up some bilas.

So, for travellers interested in purchasing artifacts and bilas the best places to visit are:

ARTICLES ON PAPUA NEW GUINEA ARTIFACTS
*Published in "Paradise", the in-flight magazine of Air Niugini	A treasure-trove of storyboards in Chimondo


	Frank Hurley's Gulf of Papua

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