Kato alu (woven ceremonial basket)

This 100-year-old kato alu (woven ceremonial basket) is the oldest in Te Papa's Pacific collections. It has been decorated by painting the outer surface black and threading braided sennit (coconut husk fibre) along the outside surface to create triangular designs. The suspension cord is also made from sennit.

Kato alu
Kato alu are one of several types of baskets that were made in Tonga as early as the eighteenth century. Kato alu are said to originate from the island of 'Eua, which is southeast of Tongatapu, the main group of islands of Tonga. They were first noted by Captain Cook in 1777 and examples were collected during his voyages. Kato alu are significant Tongan cultural items of exchange and are often presented as gifts during weddings, funerals, and birthdays. They are also works of great artistry, skill, and ingenuity.

Art in construction
The art of kato alu is primarily in the construction. Each basket is woven from carefully prepared roots and the midribs of coconut leaves. The lengthy and complex production process involves a number of stages - plant harvesting, cooking, weaving, and decoration - before the basket is ready to be ceremonially exchanged.

Past and present
Kato alu continue to be made today, as do a modern version known as kato teu (decorated ceremonial baskets). While both are valued and used in the same way, there is a distinction between them. The art of kato alu is in the preparation process, the weaving technique, and decorations. The art of kato teu, on the other hand, lies in the ingenuity and creativity that goes into decorating ready-made baskets.