Which traditional handicrafts are made in Solomon Islands?

Traditional handicrafts in the Solomon Islands are deeply rooted in the region's cultural heritage, with many crafts involving specialized skills and artistic traditions. Key examples include:

• Woodcarving: Artisans create a variety of items, including canoes, paddles, slit gongs, dance clubs, and architectural elements. These often feature intricate carvings of human figures, ancestors, and animal motifs, such as sharks and birds.1
• Shellwork: Mother-of-pearl inlay is a hallmark of Solomon Islands art, frequently applied to bowls, ceremonial clubs, dance staffs, and shields. Additionally, openwork panels made of tridacna shell are used to enclose ancestral shrines.1
• Basketry: The region is known for its developed plaiting processes, which are used to create both utilitarian items and decorated shields.2
• Canoe Construction: The construction of large, elaborately decorated canoes is a significant traditional craft, featuring tall prow and stern posts adorned with shell rows and small guardian spirit carvings known as musumusu.1
• Musical Instruments: Traditional crafts include the creation of panpipes and percussive "bamboo bands," which consist of assemblages of bamboo drums.3

These crafts are often produced by skilled specialists and are promoted by institutions such as the Solomon Islands National Museum.