At Frame Today Brisbane, we recently completed a deeply meaningful custom framing project that brought together craftsmanship, culture, and personal history. A local customer came to us with a set of traditional arrowheads from the Solomon Islands, known as Noyapu. hoping to turn them into a surprise birthday gift for her father-in-law.
The result? A striking framed display that now honours both Solomon Islands heritage and the love of a family who wanted to give something truly special.
A Surprise Gift with Cultural Roots
The arrowheads were brought in by a custom seeking a memorable present for her father-in-law, who is originally from the Solomon Islands and a passionate collector of cultural artefacts. Due to age and health, he can no longer return to his homeland, so this gift would serve as a permanent reminder of his roots.
She had browsed the Frame Today website and found a previously framed piece featuring similar tribal ornaments. She loved it so much she said, “That’s exactly what I want.” Her goal was to capture the same look and feel for this meaningful set of Solomon Islands ceremonial arrowheads.
Custom Framing Details: A Thoughtful, Tailored Design
The framed collection featured 13 handcrafted Novapu arrowheads, each wrapped in traditional red fibre and detailed with black, white, and yellow bands, along with distinctive feather tops.
To create a gallery-quality display, we designed and crafted a custom frame as follows:
- Moda Black float frame: sleek, modern and made in Italy.
- Top Chalk Matboard: a crisp white that contrasts beautifully with the red fibre.
- Bottom Real Red Matboard: a 5mm reveal to match the detailing on the arrowheads.
- Tru Vue UltraVue® glass: ultra-clear, virtually reflection-free, and provides 70% UV protection.
- Custom plaque: engraved with the item’s description for a museum-style finish.
Each arrowhead was carefully spaced in a landscape orientation, with the tallest ones on either end. We allowed for an approximate internal layout of 720mm x 430mm, with a 25mm float gap between the ornaments and the matboard, ensuring the pieces had room to shine without crowding.
Our design also included an engraved plaque reading:
“Noyapu” - Feather memory ornament - Santa Cruz
This small touch added context to the display while enhancing its presentation value.
From Frame to Family Heirloom
When the customer returned to collect the finished piece, her emotional reaction said it all. She and her husband were so moved by the result that they even hugged me, expressing heartfelt thanks and saying they were confident the gift would mean everything to her father-in-law.
Moments like these remind us why custom framing matters. It’s not just about protecting objects - it’s about capturing meaning, preserving heritage, and creating gifts that last a lifetime.
Why Float Frame Cultural Artefacts?
Framing cultural pieces like Solomon Islands arrowheads not only protects them from damage and deterioration, it also transforms them into storytelling centrepieces. Whether it's tribal art, indigenous crafts, or family heirlooms, professional custom framing gives these items the respect and visual presence they deserve.
At Frame Today, our team understands the delicate balance between aesthetics, preservation, and sentiment. Every piece we frame is treated with care and intention.
Thinking About Framing Something Special?
If you have rare cultural artefacts, treasured keepsakes, or ethnographic collectibles, Frame Today can help you turn them into timeless framed art.
We provide:
- Free design consultations
- Custom shadow box framing for 3D objects
- Professional matboard and glass selection
- Same-day framing options on select ranges
- A lifetime guarantee on all materials and craftsmanship.
Visit your nearest Frame Today store or browse our Advice & Inspiration: Wall Decor & Framing Blog to explore what's possible.
