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Kato pesi kahoa

human history
  • Other Name

    Purse (English)

  • Description

    Kato pesi kahoa. Small purse for storing treasures. This is a handwoven kato pesi kahoa. It would be worn around one's neck at the front. It is rectangular in form with a zipped opening at the top. A long kavei (handle) has been attached at either end of the opening. The entirety of the kato (basket) is made up of lau fā (pandanus leaf) and the notion of a synthetic, brown coloured zip that has been hand basted to the interior of the opening.

    The exterior of the kato pesi kahoa portrays a base border of alternating black and pale, off-white lau fā woven together. Beyond this, the mass of the exterior portrays triangular geometric patterns surrounded by small checkered patterns in the same colourway. These were described and inspired by the artist as the mouga (mountains) she sees on the plane to New Zealand. A small cord of lau fā has been attached to the zip and the length of the handle has been encased with black dyed and pale off-white woven lau fā. The interior of the kato has been lined with plain woven lau fā in its natural colouring. Further details from the artist mention that, 'She believes that it is easy to create patterns when your maths is good. The curled strands are called tui fa and a whirl of pandanus is called paka fa'.

  • Place
  • Accession Number
    2015.14.6
  • Accession Date
    17 Mar 2015
  • Other Id

    56756.6 (ethnology)

  • Department
purse; Kato pesi kahoa; 2015.14.6

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