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Kato

human history
  • Other Name

    Ladies' handbag

  • Description

    This is a Taimani (diamond) shaped open top handwoven Taimani (Diamond), Fakahilihili (drawn over three strands) and Manulua (very old Tongan design), patterned kato (bag). The inside layer is tofua that measures 25mm x 25mm.

    This is a double skinned woven kato of tofua (natural pandanus) and possibly paongo (brown pandanus) dyed black, at the bottom tip they measure 30mm x 30mm down the right edge before being split into 5mm lengths and is woven in vertical (natural) and horizontal (black) in a combination of patterns. The patterns are three Taimani (Diamond), Fakahilihili (drawn over three strands) and Manulua (very old Tongan design) and Fakahilihili (drawn over three strands) again. The pattern is the same on the other side only the colours are reversed, vertical (black) and horizontal (natural), and instead of three Taimani (Diamond) patterns the centre pattern is a rectangle. The handle is a single rolled four plait with natural and black tofua, making a spiral pattern. The handle is damaged at both joining points of the kato, it is also damaged in the middle where one would hold it. Tofua is used to sew the inside and outside weaving together. A female kato possibly used for church or special occasion.

  • Place
  • Accession Number
    1979.40
  • Accession Date
    1979
  • Other Id

    48431 (ethnology)

  • Department
bag, 1979.40, 48431, Cultural Permissions Apply

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