Samoan Fine Mats

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Samoan fine mats. The ie samoa is a special finely hand woven mat fastened at the hem with two rows of green and red feathers and a loose fringe on one end. Fine mats ie are prized in samoa as symbols of wealth and abundance and are exchanged and offered as symbols of celebration redemption celebration honor and forgiveness. The four most used mats are fala paongo fala tui fala tofua and fala fihu. Other items classed as tōga such as barkcloth siapo and other types of ie had declined being replaced with imported cloth and manufactured cloth ie papālagi was finding its way into the ceremonial exchange system.

The value of an ie tōga fine mat is derived from the knowledge skill patience and love that go into its making. An i e toga is normally used on special occasions. Everything from ie toga falas taovala etc. Jul 25 2017 polynesian mats are made from the pandanus tree fala hala hand wolven and decorated w feathers shells yarn etc.

Traditionally woven with fine strippings of the pandanus plant the final product is silk like. Some fine mats take years to complete. They are made by women and form an important part of their role. ʻie tōga are valued by the quality of the weave and the softness and shine of the material.

These occasions include weddings funerals building of new houses church events tattooing and appointing of a new chief in a village. Almost every village had a designated spot fale lalaga where women would gather to make. T he origins of the first fine mat ever woven trace back through generations of oral history and legend to the village of lefutu in tutuila american samoa and follows a dramatic story through its journey to the kingdom of tonga and again back to amoa in savaii. Fine mats became increasingly synonymous with mea samoa samoan things.

Ie sae are very soft finely woven traditional samoan fine mats. Fine mats ie tonga the term fine mat is not an accurate english translation for the word ie toga the most valued possession of the royal families of samoa. An ʻie tōga is a special finely woven mat that is an important item of cultural value in samoa they are commonly referred to in english as fine mats although they are never used as mats as they only have a purely cultural value. The fala paongo brown in colour ranks high it is a chiefly mat and is customarily presented to those of chiefly rank.

Fine mats in the samoan culture have been considered in some ways more valuable then money. In the past there were many accomplished fine mat makers. The history or story is that the first find mat that travelled from samoa to tonga and back hence named ietoga had a special origin.