Warrma Piipa Clapsticks and Custom Gift Box

After collaborating with the team at Biren Consultancy on a custom message stick, we were thrilled to take on another exciting project for them. This time, we were tasked with creating bespoke boxes to house indigenous clapsticks as part of a corporate gifting initiative for William Barton—a renowned Kalkadungu man, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, didgeridoo player, and classical composer.

We personally sourced timber from Northern Queensland for the custom clapsticks which were crafted from native Australian Gidgee timber. Gidgee timber has special significance in Aboriginal culture as it is traditionally used for crafting tools such as boomerangs, nulla nullas, and clapsticks. It is a hardy, native Australian tree with a dark brown colour and dense wood, making it the most difficult timber we have worked with to date.

We carefully laser-etched the clapsticks with an intricate hand-drawn Indigenous artwork designed specifically for this project by Aunty Delmae Barton, William’s Mother. After multiple production meetings, our team developed a way to seamlessly etch a snake design around the sticks, ensuring a flawless, continuous pattern.

To complement these unique pieces, we designed and constructed custom boxes incorporating William Barton’s personal branding elements, the emu foot. The exterior featured a distinctive laser-cut pattern, enhanced with UV printing to align perfectly with the project’s aesthetic. To add a personal touch, we also produced custom card stock, allowing William to include handwritten letters for each recipient.

Bringing this corporate gift to life was an absolute pleasure, and we loved every step of the creative process. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind, custom-designed piece, get in touch with us today—we’d love to bring your vision to reality.