In 1998, during a trip to Vanuatu, Raymonde Chatelain, Ngilong International Tuburin  founder, has been asked by the Ambrym Islands customary chiefs to try to sell in Noumea those famous carved fern trees we now admire in the gardens and grounds everywhere in town.

Then, seeing the success of Vanuatu crafts selling in New Caledonia, the idea to better let the public know about Kanak Art naturally comes. For a long time, several carving men have been trying to continue to perpetuate a certain tradition of Kanak Art making roof finials, doorframes, axes, masks, carved bamboos and so on. It is now one of the aims of N.I.T. team to promote their work.

Unfortunately, the craft activity is still restricted on the local level. So, and to diversify the offer, the Ngilong team carry on the investigation across the Melanesian world, regurlarly travelling through Fiji Islands, Solomon Islands or Papua Guinea where we are always looking for new items aimed to clients demanding top-quality handicraft.

Another purpose we search for is to try to contribute to develop the small-scale activities of the visited areas in directly buying hand-made items to their makers. In this way, in New Caledonia, Fiji Islands or Solomon Islands, we prioritize direct relationship with the craftsmen. So, as the years go by, Ngilong team has woven a important network of various contributors composed of carving men, painters, collectors, museum keepers and so on...

Moreover, we have many contacts with contributors from New Zealand, Tonga Islands or French Polynesia. So, we can also offer a choice of crafts from the Polynesian world like a beautiful collection of wooden maori tikis (with their certificate of authenticity) or a large selection of bone pendants from Tonga...