Item X 40643 bathi | Basket. Milingimbi, Eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. c.1930

Summary

This is a woman's basket used for carrying "sugarbag" or honey collected from the hive of the native bee. It is tightly woven and sealed inside with a coat of beeswax. The entire outer surface is also sealed with a thick coating of ochres and white pigment.

Local Name

bathi

Physical Description

A twined conical basket made from pandanus and close weave. It is painted with natural pigments and has broad horizontal stripes in yellow, red and pink ochres. Vegetable fibre string is stitched around the rim and a multistrand handle of vegetable fibre string is attached to the rim at the back.