'Ato ta'ita'i

human history

Ato ta'ita'i. Hand bag. This is a hand woven 'ato ta'ita'i. It has been woven to form a rectangular base and four sides with an opening at the top. The longest sides of the 'ato (bag) extend further than the short sides to form flaps for the closure of the top. The interior has been woven from lau paoga (coarse pandanus material) in a plain lalaga (weave) style. The exterior also has a plain lalaga style but with lau fala (softer pandanus material). Parts of the weft have been dyed in green and pink or left as the natural colour of lau fala. Two 'au (handles) have been fili (braided) in the same lau fala material. Both have been attached to the base of the 'ato on the longest sides and extend into loops separate from the flaps. Small domes also made from lau fala have been attached to the edges of one flap near both corners. Adjacent to these on the other flap, small fili tolu (three-ply braided) loops of lau fala have been attached for the purpose of fastening the flaps together. This style of 'ato could be used for shopping or for lotu (church).

Accession number: 1975.114 Last Update: 14 Sept 2023
Other Name

Hand bag (English)

Place
Samoa/Pacific
Accession Number

1975.114

Accession Date

1975

Other Id

47074 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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