Summary
Human hair and animal fur were spun into string using a hooked or cross-like spindle. The spindle is generally rotated across the thigh while the hair is held in the other hand. Coating the palm hand holding the hair with ochre enabled the string to be coloured during spinning. In northern Australia, hair and fur string has great value and are almost exclusively used for ceremonial objects and paraphernalia. In Arnhem Land this string is a highly valued commodity, particularly that recovered from ceremonial objects, and was used as payment in trading for other materials or artefacts.
Local Name
Kopeida
Physical Description
A single stick with a hook at one end. It is wound with human hair string.
More Information
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Object/Medium
Spindle
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Maker
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Cultural Groups
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Locality
Alligator River, Western 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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Object Measurements
300 mm (Length), 30 mm (Width), 20 mm (Height)
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Classification
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Date Made
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Maker
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Clan/Language Group
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Place Made
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Indigenous Region
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Keywords
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References
[Book] 1992. Women's work: Aboriginal women's artefacts in the Museum of Victoria.
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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