Sarakim Village Bilum Bag, #8078 $125.00

Bilum bags, such as this colorful example from the Sarakim Village of the Wosera area, are used by nearly every villager throughout Papua New Guinea and Indonesia Papua. They are especially common in the cities where bush, the material used to make the string bags, is plentiful.

Traditionally, these bilum bags serve as pockets, purses, backpacks, grocery/game bags, baby carriers and medicine bags. At home, they are used to store food, clothing and other belongings. In men’s ancestral worship place, bilums are used to store ceremonial items.

The popular string bags are decorated with colors added from grasses, orchid bark as well as natural and commercial dyes.

This bilum measures 28 inches wide at the widest part as shown in the photo although keep in mind these things expand greatly. It is 13 inches tall not including the strap.

**This contemporary New Guinea accessory has a hole in both sides so it should be hung rather than used. However, due to the continuous figure-eight knotting used to make the bag, it is not likely to unravel - it has been marked down from $175.00 due to these two holes.


#8078 Bilum bag, Sarakim Village, Wosera area, Papua New Guinea