Te reeree

human history

Te reeree. Souvenir model sword. This is a model rere (fighting sword). It is made of natural and dyed kakoko (a young white leaf from the central shoot of the coconut frond), noko (coconut midrib), wool yarn, wi ni bakoa (shark teeth) and white burae ni moa (chicken feathers). A hard material that is tapered and flat has been used to create the internal structure of the reeree (sword). Dyed strands of pink, green and naturally white kakoko has been used to create a woven encasement of the hard internal structure. A series of geometric diamonds and chevrons are defined through the natural off-white strands of kakoko against the block colouring of pink and green. The tapered point is presented through a checkered pattern of pink and natural off-white. It has then been lashed off with a mid-blue woollen yarn with white burae ni moa tied in together. The pointed end of the reeree is eccentuated by loose, erect strands of kakoko in natural off-white and mid brown noko. The sides of the reeree feature five wi ni bakoa evenly spaced out. A circular perforation has been drilled into the base of the wi ni bakoa. These have been wedged between two pinnules of mid brown noko (coconut mid rib). The noko holds them upright. Mid-blue woollen yarn has been threaded through the perforations and then lashed across the reeree to hold the noko down and the wi ni bakoa upright. The mid-blue yarn has been used to bound the ends of the noko down with white burae ni moa at the base. A double strand of the mid-blue woollen yarn has been attached to the base of the rere to create a looped handle component.

Accession number: 2014.18.4 Last Update: 16 Sept 2026
Other Name

Decorative model sword (English)

Accession Number

2014.18.4

Accession Date

12 Mar 2014

Other Id

55584 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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