Story: Flax and flax working
This very old piece of cloth is woven from New Zealand flax fibre (muka). It was sent from New Zealand to Australia in 1829, at a time Sydney merchants were very interested in muka as an item of trade. The fibre was prepared in New Zealand and exported to Sydney, where it was re-exported to Britain at a profit. The flax trade peaked in the early 1830s.
About this item
National Library of Australia
Reference: nla.pic-an3202598
Permission of the National Library of Australia must be obtained before any re-use of this image.