Papua Arts & Crafts

The word Buka Basket is the general name given to a particular form of woven handcraft. It is used to describe not only just baskets but also trays, coasters and other items made with this form of weaving. It was initially hand woven by the Buin in the South of Bougainville, North Solomon's people of Papua New Guinea, and in parts of the Solomon Islands. In the late seventies when the Highlands people, in the particular the Ialibu and Pangians of Southern Highlands learned the technique, production has shifted to those areas.

While the baskets are known as 'Buka Baskets', the artists are in fact from Buin, South Bougainville. In the Colonial days, Bougainville was known as 'Big Buka' and Buka Island as 'Liklik Buka', hence the confusion. Colonial settlers appreciated the skills of such fine weaving and patterning, made by reversing the cane, and encouraged weavers to adapt their arts to the making of various baskets and household items for modern living. Today these baskets are ver expensive and prior to the recent war became the most common art/craft export of Bougainville.

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