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Bark paintings and orchids: a technical discussion of bark paintings from Arnhem Land

Abstract Bark paintings form a significant part of collections, both public and private, in Australia and overseas. They are significant historically, culturally and aesthetically. For conservators they also present significant conservation issues. At present there is a relatively small body of literature available that deals with their materials and techniques, mechanisms of degradation and the ethical issues surrounding their conservation. This paper examines the use of orchid juice as one of the most common natural binders used in bark paintings throughout Arnhem Land and the surrounding islands. It describes the botany of orchids that have been identified as being used in the production of bark paintings, examines accounts of bark painting production using orchid juice; and assesses methods appropriate for the analysis of orchid juice binders.