Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia
Accession Date:
7 Nov 2019
Collection Date:
28 May 2012
Notes:
Very small bilum (net bag) made of acrylic yarn, made for a mobile phone/cellphone by artist Saina. Blue with green horizontal stripes at center. Flap with button closure at the top. Single handle. Donor notes: Maker, Saina. Cost: K6. A small bilum case for a mobile phone in grey-blue with three thin stripes of light green. The acrylic yarn used for this bilum is unplied (not rolled against the thigh for strength) and is in its original store-bought state. The case has a small triangular flap at the top which fastens to the body of the bilum with a translucent green plastic button. The stitching of the flap is reinforced with weft threads. The body of the bilum is tightly looped with a reinforced stitch that simulates a weft and helps maintain the bilum's shape. The handle is also reinforced with similar complex loops. This bilum was sold at a women's health awareness fair in Goroka run by Mercy Works, a charitable NGO associated with the Catholic Diocese.