Bull Kelp Water Carrier

Maker
Eva Richardson (b.1936)
Date
2017
Description
The container is formed by gathering strips of fronds of bull kelp into a bulbous cup shape to hold water. Held together with skewers made of tea tree. Bull kelp containers or water carriers are a tradition of the Aboriginal people of the Furneaux Islands group off the north east coast of Tasmania (including the main islands of Flinders and Cape Barren) and the west coast of mainland Tasmania. Such carriers have been found to not only be a practical necessity for carrying drinking water, but to also be a health-related measure as Kelp contains high levels of iodine.

Eva (Auntie Eva) Richardson is one of a small group of elder artists in Tasmania today maintaining Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural traditions through visual arts practice. Eva Richardson, also known as Auntie Eva, was born in Moonah, Hobart, Tasmania. She is of the Trawlwoolway people of Cape Portland – Ben Lomond area of North East Tasmania.
See full details

Object detail

Date
Medium
bull kelp, tea tree sticks, oiled
Measurements
30.0 x 13.0 x 10.0 cm
Accession Number
MHM2021.42
Object Type
Medical History Museum Category

Share

My shortlist

Explore other objects by colour

Do you know something about this object?

Be the first to comment on this object record.

Google reCaptchaThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.