Basket | Katherine Coulthard | Tjanpi | 22 x 18 x 6cm

This intricately woen basket has been handmade by Katherine Coulthard, an artist from the community of Finke, in the Northern Territory. Featuring an unusual oval shape and emu feather - this basket is truly unique! 

Weaving with fibre in this way has become a fundamental part of Central and Western desert culture and draws on the traditional practice of making manguri rings - a ring worn on the head made of grasses and cloth.  Here we see traditional weaving techniques re-framed using a mix of traditional and contemporary materials - including wool! The result is a strikingly bold and colourful sculptural piece with layers of historical significance.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers is an aboriginal owned social enterprise that works with over 400 Anangu/Yarnangu women artists from 26 remote communities across the remote Central and Western desert regions. Tjanpi artists use native grasses, wool, string, seeds and feathers to make spectacular contemporary fibre art, weaving beautiful baskets and sculptures and displaying endless creativity and inventiveness. While out collecting desert grasses, women visit sacred sights and traditional homelands, hunt and gather food for their families and teach their children about country.

Details:
22 x 18 x 6cm
Materials: Tjanpi (grasses) Raffia and  emu feathers
To view all the Tjanpi sculptures and baskets we have available click HERE

More about Katherine Coulthard:

Katherine Coulthard grew up in the remote community of Apatula in the Northern Territory, and now resides in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). She grew up watching and learning weaving from artists Nelly Patterson, Mintatjarra Wilson and other elders from Mutitjulu. Her sister Justine Anderson taught her to weave with coloured raffia, and she began making Tjanpi in 2023. Katherine loves to make baskets, bowls and dream catchers, often incorporating painted gumnuts and emu feathers.

Please note: measurements are approximate due to the 3D nature of Tjanpi baskets.