Manborla (hunting bag)
Artist
Minnie Manartjala
Date1991
Object number00015571
NameBag
MediumSedge grass
DimensionsOverall: 580 x 350 x 235 mm, 0.25 kg
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThis manborla was made by Minnie Manartjala. Manborla's are traditional hunting bags typically used for catching small fish but also for carrying vegetables, fish and game. This bag features five handles and is made from sedge grass woven into a cone shape. These types of sedge grass bags are prevalent in the Maningrida region of the Northern Territory.HistoryFish bags and traps were once widely used by the people in the central and western parts of Arnhem Land. They were made from a range of different materials depending on their specific purposes. The lighter ones were constructed from pandanus leaves and used for catching smaller fish species, and the sturdy large traps made from vine were for trapping larger fish such as barramundi and salmon catfish. Traps are inserted into a fence of upright wooden stakes, built across tidal creeks so that when the tide runs out the fish are forced into the trap. Today these traps are rarely used as they have been replaced by nylon fishing lines and nets.
Traditionally men were involved in the production of hunting baskets from natural fibres and dyes in the local area, but the weaving is now practiced by women too. The two most commonly used dyes are red and yellow orchres made from the native plants of Hemadorum and Corkwood. The native plant sedge grass, found in saltwater creeks and waterways can be made into a durable and water resistant material for weaving objects such as bags, mats and baskets.
Maningrida is the base of an Indigenous Arts Centre that attracts a range of Aboriginal language and tribal groups who are well known for their basket weaving, fibre sculptures and carvings. The town is situated on the north central Arnhem Land coast of the Arafura Sea, about 500 km east of Darwin. Many of the objects produced at the centre are made for artistic purposes rather than functional use. For the local community the process of making these items is an artistic expression that reflects their traditional lifestyle in the Northern Territory. Leading artists George Ganyjibala and Jack Maranbarra instigated the production of fish traps at Maningrida in 2002 and have now taught other artists in the community their skills.SignificanceThis manborla demonstrates Indigenous weaving techniques and hunting equipment used in the Northern Territory. The undecorated bag is a typical example of a traditional utilitarian object used by men and women as they interact with the sea.
