Te reeree

human history

Te reeree. Sword. This is a handheld weapon made from the following materials: kanni (coconut palm wood), ira (pandanus leaf), wii ni bakoa (sharks teeth) and the nimwaerere (cordage of human hair and coconut sennit cordage). A length of kanni has been cut, carved and filed to form the handle and blade of the reeree. The handle has been made into a cylindrical form where its base tapers into a short point. A width of ira has been wrapped over the intersection of the blade and handle. Te nimwaerere has been used to create a weave through the ira. The blade has been carved to feature a raised ridge on both sides that extends towards the pointed end of the reeree. The sides of the blade show a continuous pattern of drilled circular perforations where wii ni bakoa and the nimwaerere have been lashed individually. Just before the end of the point, a short width of the ira has been wrapped around and woven with the nimwaerere in the same fashion as the intersection of the handle and blade.

Accession number: 1925.146 Last Update: 31 Mar 2026
Other Name

Sword (English)

Accession Number

1925.146

Accession Date

1925

Other Id

14178 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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11 Images
Te reeree, 1925.146, 14178, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 28 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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