The Massim area The islands off the extreme southeastern tip of New Guinea were linked by the kula trading cycle, which distributed not only shell valuables—the ostensible motive of the transactions—but also quantities of other goods. Notable among these were carvings in dark hardwood, which was the special product of Kiriwina, the largest of the Trobriand Islands.
The great variety of design motifs ranged from abstract shapes to both stylized and naturalistic bird, human, and animal forms. Incised designs most frequently featured curvilinear patterns, which could be easily adapted to represent stylized snakes or birds; the incisions were usually filled in with lime to make the design stand out. Among the items carved were mortars and spatulas used to prepare betel nut; long, "flat war clubs"; splashboards and decorative panels attached to the prow and stern of seagoing canoes; and dance paddles (two semicircular panels connected by a handhold bar). Dance paddles were sometimes painted, but, in general, painting of wooden objects was minimal. Painting was mainly used to decorate the gables of yam storehouses and on convex oval war shields.