Lot 75

Maningrida Arts & Culture, Northern Territory (accompanied by a copy of a certificate of authenticity)
William Mora Galleries, Melbourne
Private collection, Melbourne

"To make fish traps and fish net fences artist firstly get vine-mirlarl from the jungle and they put it in water for one night to make it soft. Next they start weaving it, they make rings for the inside to keep the fish traps shape. Artists work for three for four weeks on the fish trap. They also make string from kurrajong- burdage to attach the hibiscus- bardainy rings and to tie the conical end of the fish trap.
This fish trap is used in saltwater side and the freshwater side and people also use fish net fences called mun-dirra. Along time ago they would put the mun-dirra-fish net fence across rivers and creeks and in the middle, they would place the an-gujechiya the fish trap, they also use small things like sticks, rocks, mud and grass to block the fish from going through.
People catch fish like saltwater barramundi rajarra, freshwater barramundi Janambal, small black freshwater catfish buliya, bonefish an-guwirrpiya and Sand bass dalakan in these fish traps."
As stated on the Maningrida Arts & Culture certificate of authenticity

© Tommy Steele/Copyright Agency, 2023