Several shops in the historic centre sell Maranhão handicrafts of genuine quality — a step up from the tourist market and worth seeking out. The best pieces are ceramics from the São Luís school, which has its own distinctive style; lacework from the northeastern interior; and the smaller Bumba Meu Boi costume elements that make striking decorative objects.
The state-run craft centre near the Praça Benedito Leite carries a curated selection with fair prices and authenticity guarantees. Individual craftspeople also sell directly from workshops scattered around Praia Grande — ask your hotel or guesthouse to point you toward the working artisans' neighbourhood on the eastern edge of the historic centre.