Te reeree

human history

Te reeree. Sword. This is a hand held weapon. A length of kanni (coconut palm wood) has been cut, carved and filed to portray a handle and blade as one component. A section of the length shows a short, cylindrical form with a circular cross-section. This is the handle area. It has been encased with thick fibrous strips of the ira (pandanus leaf) that extend to where the blade area begins. Fragments of the encasement are missing where the wood of the handle is exposed. Te nimwaerere (cordage of human hair and coconut sennit fibres) has been used to lash the encasement over the wood of the handle and blade. Two pairs of noko (coconut midribs) line the edges of the blade towards the tapered point of the reeree. Wii ni bakoa (sharks teeth) have been continuously inlayed along the noko. Central perforations have been made through each wii ni bakoa for the purpose of inserting the kora (cordage of coconut sennit fibres). A series of perforations have been made along the blades edges. Kora has been inserted and used for securing and positioning both wii ni bakoa and noko upon the blade. Te nimwaerere has been bound in even spaces along the blade towards the exposed point. The point shows where fragments of the wood grain have splintered over time.

Accession number: 1927.113 Last Update: 5 Dec 2018
Other Name

Sword (English)

Accession Number

1927.113

Accession Date

1927

Other Id

982 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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Te reeree, 1927.113, 982, Photographed by Jennifer Carol, digital, 16 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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