Summary
This distinctive string ornament is called matjka and was made for young girls in Arnhem Land to wear when they reached puberty. Women also wore them in ceremony. The overwound sections is worn on the back and the loose strings are crossed over the chest. These are also made with feathered string. Young boys would also wear these at dhapi or circumcision ceremonies.
Local Name
matjka
Physical Description
A multistrand ornament made of lengths of vegetable fibre string overwound in the centre with the same string.
More Information
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Object/Medium
Ornament, chest
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Maker
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Locality
Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
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Date Produced
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Collector
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Date Collected
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Fully Extended
555 mm (Length), 165 mm (Width), 7 mm (Height)
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Keywords
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Collection Names
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Type of item
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Discipline
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Category
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Collecting Areas
Australian Indigenous - Northern Australia and Queensland and Torres Strait Islands