Summary

The pandanus bag made by Marilyn Gumurdul is called djerrh kunngobarn mileruhrurrk because of the curl of the lace coiling. At the top of the bag there are three coils of pandanus in a dyed dark brown. At Injalak Arts and Crafts the objects that are the most diverse and rich in complexity are pandanus bags, comparable to a western handbag. They have their origins in the string bag, which has been used as an object in Gunbalanya pre dating mission times.

Local Name

djerrh kunngobarn mileruhurrk

Physical Description

Handbag, made using curl or lace-like stitches for the structure under the three coils at the top with dyed pandanus (brown, yellow, orange and white). It has a single coil handle attached to the rim on opposite sides of the bag.

Significance

Marilyn Gumurdul's signature style is typically the two sided pandanus handbags such as this, however she is also well known for her coiled baskets. Marilyn is recognised as a very accomplished fibre artist and this is a very experimental with its use of pandanus to make a bag, the classic forms being made from string using the looping technique. This work shows her use of lace-like coiling and creates an unusual and unique bag. Her work was profiled in the exhibition, Woven Forms: Contemporary Basket Making in Australia that opened at Object Gallery in Sydney in September 2005 and then toured nationally. It has also featured in the publication '500 Baskets: Celebration of the Basketmakers Art' (2006).

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