South Pacific
Barkcloth
The primary textile of Solomon Islanders, like that of other Pacific islanders, is barkcloth made from the whitish inner bark of a tree that...
Tattooing
The method of Samoan tattooing has changed little over the centuries, although it is now being performed outside of Samoa and is sometimes being...
Siapo
Samoan Siapo is made from the u’a tree, (Broussonetia papyrifera). The making of siapo is labour intensive and involves stripping the bark, beating and...
Glass
Contemporary studio glass practice in New Zealand extends across a range of technical disciplines, including casting, blowing, kiln-forming, bead-work, engraving and bespoke design. The...
Wood
Wood crafts are very strong in many traditional Aboriginal communities. Products have a range of uses. The boomerang, shield, club, spear and spear-thrower are...
Whipmaking and leather plaiting
Until a century ago, many Australians worked on horseback, often in the cattle and horse-drawn transport industries. Those activities generated their own specialised leather...
Textiles
As a British colony, most of the textiles in Australia were imported. However, during times of shortage, such as the Great Depression in the...
Surfboard-making
Crafting specialised surfboards for wave-riding is a Hawaiian practice dating to around 800AD. In Australia, recreational surfing began in the early twentieth-century, initially focused...
Possum Skin Cloaks
Possum skin cloak tradition belongs to Aboriginal cultural groups across south eastern Australia. Through government policy and practice since colonisation, Aboriginal cultural practices have...
Jewellery
Australia contains abundant supplies of precious stones and metals for jewellery-making. It has some of the largest deposits of diamonds and pearls in the...
Guitar making
Guitar making is a form of lutherie (from the French luth, or lute) – the craft of building stringed musical instruments that also encompasses...