Traditional Pandanus Dilly Bags
Dilly Bags traditionally were used to carry harvested bush tucker or stone blades and other hunting implements. Constructed using a combination of Pandanus and handmade Kurrajong bush string, each are crafted using time-honoured techniques and coloured using natural bush dyes.
Artist details below.
Material: Pandanus & Natural Bush Dyes
Size: Various. (9cm to 30cm tall; openings of 7cm to 17cm wide)
These exquisite hand made dilly bags are a functional piece also suited for display or hanging on walls. Most are constructed from a combination of woven Pandanus along with handmade Kurrajong bush string.
Pandanus fibre art is labour intensive requiring a high level of care and fine needlework. Finished works are both functional and beautiful. Women collect pandanus by pulling from the top of a pandanus tree, stripping then dying the leaves using natural bush colour.
Bush string is created from Anputput (Kurrajong, pronounced “but but”). Harvested logs are steamed on a fire and then left to cool until able to be handled. Bark is peeled off and the outer darker skin discarded. The softer inner fibre is mashed and separated into usable strips which has a lace-like visual look. From here the strips are rolled – usually on a leg or thigh – and spun into the string form. At this point, natural bush colour is boiled and the string added to give it colouring. Once dyed and dried, this handmade bush string is used in the construction of a dilly bag.
Pandanus artists include:
Noreena Ashley
Noreena is originally from Gapuwiyak and learned the art of bush harvesting and weaving from her sister, mother and grandmother. Noreena creates vibrant fibre mats, baskets, string bags and Mukuy spirit figures, as well as designs for print and textiles. Noreena has exhibited in Melbourne and Darwin and has travelled to Timor-Leste with Djilpin. Noreena currently teaches workshops in Beswick / Wugularr and Katherine.
Julie Ashley
Julie was born on Elcho Island off the coast of Arnhem Land. She was taught to weave with pandanus and to collect the natural bush dyes by her mother. Julie has created a range of contemporary fibre artefacts such as lampshades, hats, mobiles and quirky animals including fish, turtles and dragonflies. She has also designed for Djilpin's textiles range and created two limited edition screen prints. Julie has conducted weaving workshops in Canberra and Darwin, and teaches our current workshops in Beswick / Wugularr and Katherine.
