The Lissant Bolton Collection: Vanuatu, 1990s

Brief description

A collection of approximately 90 artfacts from Vanuatu mostly baskest and mats collected in the 1990s.

Full description

In 1990 the Australian Museum acquired 44 artefacts from Vanuatu. Most were collected by Dr Lissant Bolton who, at the time, was the museum’s Pacific Collection Manager and Ms Anna Nolan. In 1993 Dr Bolton collected a further 39 artefacts from Vanuatu. Most of the artefacts are baskets and mats.

Dr Bolton is an anthropologist who specialises in the Pacific. Her research focuses on gender and kastom in Vanuatu, and on the indigenous use of collections and cultural knowledge. She has a specific interest in textiles. She has worked in Vanuatu annually since 1989, collaborating with the Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VKS) in the development of programs to document and revive women’s knowledge and practice. This program, the Women’s Culture Project, holds annual training workshops for ni-Vanuatu women extension workers, which Bolton chairs.