Te reeree

Te reeree. Sword. This reeree is in three parts and has become separated. These consist of a wooden length that portrays both the handle and barbed blade as one component and two wooden parts that represent the guard components. All three parts show attachments that are characteristic of i-Kiribati reeree. The length that portrays both the handle and barbed blade is cylindrical in form and features a circular cross-section at its base that has been hafted into an angle. Two wooden remains have been tied with string to the handle area. These could potentially be the remains that were once part of the guard parts. A loose band of kora (cordage of coconut sennit fibres) features across the handle area after the wooden remains. A band of ira (pandanus leaf) has been wrapped around the area where the barbed blade begins. Four lengths of noko (coconut midribs) extend from the banded area of ira in quartered sections. Two of the four finish mid-way along the length and the remaining two finish just before the point of the reeree. Each pair has been continuously inlayed with wii ni bakoa (sharks teeth). Central perforations have been made through each wii ni bakoa for the purpose of inserting the kora. Horizontal lashings of kora has been utilized for securing and positioning each wii ni bakoa and the noko. Small bands of irauea (cordage of human hair) feature across the central and top section of the blade. The top of the noko ends have been finished with ira. It has been bound off with kora leaving a fibrous fringe at the base of the encasement. The point of the reeree is exposed after the encasement of the ira. The two parts in which were once attached to the reeree are the guard parts. They have been made from a different wood type to that of the length for the blade and handle. They are crescent shaped with a flat depth. Their sides are lined with noko and wii ni bakoa that have been secured with kora in a similar fashion to that of the blade and handle component. One guard part shows a longer and exposed end in comparison to the shorter one of the two. Both portray tapered points at the top.