APPLE SEED ITEMS: LAUNCESTON AUCTION 25.03.09 – Ipil Seeds possibly

Click on the images to enlarge

Well the hammer price on all three items was $40 each. This was so despite the fact that the auctioneer raised the issue about the doubt about the origins of the work and that it was probable that neither contained "apple seed". He did not suggest that the seeds were ipil-ipil seeds but did say that seed were possibly from a" tree that originated in Mexico." None of this seemed to effect the hammer price – Auction House – Tullochs Auctions.

More interesting however was the fact that the vendor, who was not present, seems to know of a maker who did indeed use apple seeds for necklace making. The vendor has been contacted and has provided the following information:

• The items offered for sale had all been purchased in Tasmania in various locations such as thrift shops, antique shops or garage sales over several years;
• The vendor's wife in her youth had worked in apple sheds on The Huon and does not recall seeing any apple seed craft being done nor hearing of any at that time;
• The vendor had met a woman living on Tasmania's east coast who had made apple seed necklaces and who had apparently made a great many over the years (100s?) but very often as gifts – this is first reliable report to TASRN of someone in Tasmania making such work in any amount. This clue is being investigated and when more information is available more will be reported here as information comes to hand.

Another person at the auction reported that a friend had purchased a relatively large number of necklaces similar items to the items on sale in Bali. How these items managed to get through Australian customs is a mystery if indeed they did.

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

IPIL SEED PURSE WITH A UK PROVENANCE

Click on image to enlarge

PROVENANCE: This purse was received a gift in the 1950s in the UK when the current owner was a child. Her memories are that an Aunt gave it to her when she and her husband returned to the UK on furlough from Kenya. The purse may have been purchase in Kenya but more likely on the sea voyage to the UK. Aden is a likely port where it may have been purchased. At the time she received the gift none of her family nor anyone that she knew of had any connection with Tasmania. (Pers. Com 24.03.09)

NETWORKER NOTE: I wouldn't be surprised if these trees are in Africa as there was extensive trade between East Asia and Africa for 100s of years. There were lots of missionaries in Kenya. I'm no expert but the artefact has an East African feel to it.

IPIL SEED MAT

Click on the image to enlarge

This mat was purchased in Launceston in an antique shop mid March 209 as an "apple seed mat". Interestingly, in the 1970s there was an importer in Launceston who imported these mats and necklaces. They came in a relatively wide variety of patterns. The importers also understand that there were other importers also selling them as "ipil seed" products into Tasmania.

The importer is still in business but given that company records only go back 10 years it is not possible for them to provide any further information regarding the source of their supplies.

The seeds in this mat have been scientifically identified as ipil-ipil seeds – actually Leucaena leucocephala. However it is understood that these mats and necklaces were regularly retailed as "apple seed" mats and necklaces and were regularly purchased as Tasmanian souvenirs in the 1970s. They are quite rare now but it seems that they were common in Tasmania in the 1970s.

OTHER NAMES FOR IPIL-IPIL SEEDS

Click on the image to enlarge

It seems that this little seeds carries much more cultural cargo and is much more significant than almost anyone might have imagined. It now seems that because of the over exploitation of this plant in The Philippines the harvesting of these seeds is now heavily controlled. Yet in Australia – specifically in the Northern Territory & Queensland – this same plant is regarded as an invasive woody weed. Curiously, it seems that in some parts of the Northern Territory necklaces made from these seeds – possibly by Aboriginal people – are understood as "apple seed necklaces." It seems that this infectious 'whitefeller' Freudian slip is prone to happen in lots of places.

SOME REFERENCE LINKS

• Medicinal – Philippines (talismanic?)
• A plant description worth looking at
• Leucaena leucocephala [ipil ipil] has a reputation as the 'miracle tree'.
• Ipil-ipil seeds for sale
• Another context for ipil-ipil or wild tamarind

SAMPLES FROM A TASMAINAN COLLECTION: Apple or Ipil Seeds?

Click on an image to enlarge

Necklaces from a Tasmanian collection and notably all were collected in Tasmania. Along with other necklaces containing seeds understood as being “apple seeds” these examples have come to be understood in Tasmania by collectors in a class of their own and typically described as ‘Apple Seed Craft'.

NOTE: Interesting, like objects are similarly understood in the USA and seeds in some of these items have been identified as ipil seeds rather than 'apple seeds'. While, these items are beginning to turn up elsewhere – other than in Tasmania – they seem to be quite (very?) rare.

IDENTIFYING IPIL SEEDS FROM APPLE SEEDS

The ipil-ipil seeds (Leucaena Leucocephala ) can be relatively easily identified and the diagram above is probably the best way to describe how that might be done by the non-botanist albeit that a magnifying glass will generally be needed.

These seeds typically appear in necklaces understood in Tasmania as "apple seed necklaces" and collected as Apple Seed Craft. There is much speculation in regard to how this understanding arose but the ipil/apple Freudian slip cannot be discounted. The search goes on for examples of Apple Seed Craft makers in Tasmania.

One thing is now clear however, regardless of the the fact that these necklaces, placemats, purses, belts, etc. containing either ipil or apple seeds they are quite rare and very little seems to be known about them.

PROGRESS REPORT #2: Apple & Ipil Seeds

What TASRN is really interested in regard to this research is the ‘placedness’ of the cultural products that in Tasmania have been understood as "apple seed" necklaces, etc. A large part of this placedness – Tasmanian-ness ?– is to do with the cultural cargo these objects carry.

TASRN research has brought to light some interesting information. It is below in dot points identifying the key points.
1. The necklaces understood as 'Tasmanian Apple Seed Necklaces' it now seems that they were indeed made elsewhere – or at least a great many (most?) of them were;
2. The form and materials used in these necklaces appear to be and indicate that they are of Asian origin – and in some cases the Pacific region and/or Central & South America;
3. These necklaces seem to be similarly imagined as “Apple Seed Necklaces” in the USA;
4. It is increasingly evident that the palawa (Tasmanian Aboriginal) community in Tasmania has no memory of people in their community making such material – nonetheless memories of makers are still being sough and the lack of this information does not by necessity discount that possibility ;
5. There seems to be a paucity of information available in the ‘antique market’ in Tasmania that can attribute a clear Tasmanian provenance for these objects or their being made in Tasmania – however it has been discovered that the TMAG does indeed have three relevant objects in its reserve collection contrary to earlier advice;
6. That there is increasing evidence that these necklaces and kindred objects were quite likely that the key objects have been made in The Philippines and/or New Guinea with others being made throughout the Pacific region – and it may well be the case that they are still being made there and/or in other places in Asia or the Pacific;
7. That seeds in necklaces that was purchased at Tullochs Auctions – Launceston Tasmania – as “Apple Seed Necklaces” have been independently and scientifically verified via botanic testing as being made entirely of ipil seeds ( ipil-ipil _Leucaena leucocephala ) a tropical plant that cannot grow in Tasmania – nor can this plant be imported to Australia currently in any form because it is a destructive and invasive “woody weed”;
8. That it is possible to have seeds in artefacts identified, and verified, in like manner in a non destructive way;
9. That it remains a possibility that at least some of these necklaces and other items understood as “Apple Seed Craft” have been made in Tasmania but this is yet to be verified via oral histories etc.;
10. That there is a possibility that this material may well have been imported into Tasmania since early times (even pre WW1) from Asia and/or the Pacific but this too is yet to be verified;
11. 'Tasmanian Collections' of this material can be seen as an important indicator of Tasmanian adoption, adaptation and assimilation of these objects as ‘Tasmanian’ in the ‘Tasmanian cultural imagination’ with Tasmanian cultural cargo, social histories, etc. These collections can be seen an exemplar of this kind globalisation at work in Tasmania and as it can found elsewhere – the USA almost certainly and possibly the UK as well nonetheless somewhat differently to that to be found in the Tasmanian vernacular.

This information and interpretations of it are currently being tested within the network and its credibility is being tested in the public domain. Hopefully via this process TASRN will be able to glean more information.

If you are reading this and have something information to offer please eMAIL AppleSeedResearch@7250.net or leave a comment in the comment section below.