'Ato

'Ato. Basket. This is a handwoven 'ato made from a combination of lau fala (soft pandanus material) and lau paogo (coarse pandanus material). This 'ato portrays a square base and curved sides that form an oval opening. The interior of the 'ato has been made with lau paogo through a plain lalaga (weave). The exterior has been woven with lau fala. The sides show a twill lalaga. From afar the triangular patterns on the lalaga look similar to patterns characteristic of siapo (Samoan tapa; bark cloth). The patterns are defined by a light brown coloured warp and naturally pale yellow weft. An 'au (handle) has been attached across the opening. It has been made with a spine of lau paogo which has then been encased by woven lau fala that also portrays geometric patterns.