Item X 83059 Basket. Lockhart River, East Cape York, Queensland, Australia. pre 1979

Summary

In Cape York Peninsula, baskets are made fibre from the young blades of coastal pandanus. These are split with the help of a small knife or sharp nail, then dried and dyed using local plants. The fibre is bundled together and stored in a pillowslip until ready to be used.

Physical Description

A coiled basket made from dyed and undyed pandanus. The base is circular and flat. It is multicoloured mainly orange, dark brown and light brown. A single handle made from lawyer cane wrapped in fibre is attached at the rim of the basket on opposite sides.