Arhnem Land Woven Conical Bag

Traditional handcrafted 'Dilly Bag'. This bag features a tightly woven decorative effect, created with pandanus fibres. The fibres have been dyed with natural bush colours and are interwoven to produce a stunning horizontal striped effect.
Artist : Judy Baypungula
Size : 40cm (16") L x 30cm (12") W
(Soon to be available through an online auction house)

Ramingining Woven Bag $ 270.00 AUD

Traditional handcrafted bag, referred to as a 'mindirr' or dilly' bag. The bag features the stunning decorative effect, created with pandanus fibres, coloured with natural bush dyes.

Artist : Judy Baypungula
Size : 40cm (16") L x 30cm (12") W

Mindirr $ 150.00 AUD

Traditional handcrafted pandanus string bag; multiple rich ochre colours made with natural bush dyes, large cylindrical shaped. The bag features a tightly woven and uniquely textured decorative effect.
Artist : Rosie Rodji
Size : 40cm (16") L x 25cm (10") W

Ramingining Pandanus Bag $ 235.00 AUD

Traditional handcrafted pandanus bag; often referred to as a 'mindirr' or 'dilly bag'. This personal bag has been woven with deep shades of orange and reddish-brown to produce a horizontal striped effect.

The woven items produced today are made with as much care and reverence as they have been for centuries, being made for utilitarian and ritual purposes as well as for the outside market. As with weapons and utensils, there has been some adaptation to suit the Aboriginal people's changing way of life and demands of Balanda (European) market. New techniques have been introduced at various stages in their history and some of these have been mastered and adopted in the constant experimentation that keeps that art exciting and dynamic both for those catering it, and the many discerning admirers of their art.
Artist : Elsie Bulung
Size : 30cm (12") L x 25cm (10") W

The Creation Process

Watch the creation process on video! Traditional Aboriginal Australian Baskets are made from woven pandanus fibre, dyed and decorated with ochre. The three youngest bunches of leaves from the top of the Gunga (pandanus spirilis) or Screw Palm is hooked down by a long stick, and the prickly edges stripped off with the thumb nail.

On their return from the bush, the women strip the long leaves into several fibres, bundle them up and hang them to dry. Weaving may commence at this stage and the finished article left 'white' or decorated with ochres, or the fibres are beautifully coloured with natural bush dyes. The Gunga is then skilfully woven into many beautiful and useful items.

See and read more about the brilliant colours used!

Decorative Effects
The interaction of the two linear elements (horizontal and vertical strands) creates patterns in colour, light and shade. A particular decorative effect that can be achieved is horizontal stripes created by varying the colour of the strands through the full dye potentials. These fibre constructions are unquestionably fine art.

Check out the source to find out more!