Summary
Armbands and armlets are worn by men, women and children with very small ones beng made at times for babies. Nganybak is a generic name for armbands made from a single length of two ply string wound around a section of Flagellaria cane. In ancestral times, these were worn by the ancestors or wangarr, who created the Arnhem Land landscape during their travels. The raki, or string, is most often made from the softened and shredded fibres of the inner bark of the Kurrajong (Brachychiton paradoxum). It is produced by rolling two strands of the fibre along the thigh away from the body, and then with a backward rolling motion, pressure is applied with the base of the hand causing the twisted fibres to ply.
Local Name
nganybak
Physical Description
A pair of circular armbands made of cane (most likely Flagelleria sp.) overwound with feathered vegetable fibre string.
More Information
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Object/Medium
Ornament, arm
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Maker
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Cultural Groups
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Locality
Cape Arnhem, 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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Object Measurements
175 mm (Length), 125 mm (Width), 80 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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Acquisition Information
Long-term Loan from The University of Melbourne, 28 Mar 1973
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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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Acknowledgement
The Donald Thomson Collection. On loan to Museum Victoria from The University of Melbourne.