Te unun Kiribati shark tooth weapon

Shakethetrees · 10th August 2014, 07:14 PM

Greetings!

A new find! (Not new to me, but unearthed from packing and moving!)

Something I picked up a while back. A previous owner tagged it with a Stone's reference, but for some reason it didn't attract ant real interest at an estate auction. It's about 29" long and made of palmwood with sennit or coconut fiber lashings. Finely done, but one or two teeth are a little loose, one might be, not making a pun here, hanging on by a thread.

Years ago, (I hunk it was about 1974 or so.), I was in the Peabody museum in Boston, long before it moved to Salem. On display was a mannequin dressed in fiber armor with a grouping of shark tooth weapons organized in cases nearby. I wish I had pictures!

At the time I was not interested in collecting ethnographic material, but it made me aware of it to the point that when this piece came up, I jumped on it.

I wish that I had taken the time to really explore the place better, and just not kill a little time!

Anyway, any comments are welcome!

10th August 2014, 07:14 PM	#1
Shakethetrees Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 363	Te unun Kiribati shark tooth weapon Greetings! A new find! (Not new to me, but unearthed from packing and moving!) Something I picked up a while back. A previous owner tagged it with a Stone's reference, but for some reason it didn't attract ant real interest at an estate auction. It's about 29" long and made of palmwood with sennit or coconut fiber lashings. Finely done, but one or two teeth are a little loose, one might be, not making a pun here, hanging on by a thread. Years ago, (I hunk it was about 1974 or so.), I was in the Peabody museum in Boston, long before it moved to Salem. On display was a mannequin dressed in fiber armor with a grouping of shark tooth weapons organized in cases nearby. I wish I had pictures! At the time I was not interested in collecting ethnographic material, but it made me aware of it to the point that when this piece came up, I jumped on it. I wish that I had taken the time to really explore the place better, and just not kill a little time! Anyway, any comments are welcome! Attached Images