Item X 40613 bathi minydjalpi | Basket. Gupapuyngu Daygurrgurr. Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. c.1930

Summary

This is a man's ceremonial basket and the diamond pattern is created by hair string stitched onto the main body of the basket. This patterning is niwuda, the "sugarbag" or the hive of the native honey, a sacred design for the Gupapuyngu Daygurrgurr clan.

Local Name

bathi minydjalpi

Physical Description

A twined conical basket made from pandanus and close weave. It is painted with natural pigments in broad horizontal bands in red, white and yellow. String spun from animal fur is stitched through the body of the basket forming a diamond pattern. The rim is stitched with vegetable fibre string using a blanket stitch. A multistrand handle of vegetable fibre string is attached to the rim at the back.