Maori Maripi

[kronckew]

arrived today from a UK dealer, maori shark toothed cutting impliment, kind of a utility knife used to slice meat and veg mostly, but also humans as the need arose. 6 shark teeth are from the 6 or 7 gilled sharks native to the NZ area. they are held together by some sort of fibre and resin in a groove in the wood, hard to see exactly. they are razor sharp too. this one is 23 cm. long. (black cord was added by me to hang it)

not sure how old. vendor didn't think it was antique. i note the pommel holes are carved in, not drilled. i did a search on the web & only found a few examples, most in this size range, inc. a slightly smaller one in the NZ museum. also saw a much larger swordlike one listed as a chief's maripi.

[mariusgmioc]

Hello,

Very nice piece, but I doubt that is antique (simply because the wood doesn't seem that aged). Anyhow it certainly appears to be made in traditional way.

[Tim Simmons]

No it is not carved in a traditional fashion.

[kahnjar1]

The fibre mentioned above which holds the teeth will be flax fibre. Have not heard of resin being used but then I am not particularly knowledgeable about our native weapons The other thing is that it seems to me that the carving is not of the quality seen on pieces in Museums here.

[kronckew]

i found a maripi at the pitts river museum from the capt. cook voyage collection, itrm 1886.1.1161 , similar sharks teeth are held with flax fibre and resin. the resin on mine is a lighter colour. Detail Attached .

p.s. i tweaked the photo exposure on my maripi to show the detail of the wood, in person it is a few shades darker. the carving is a bit crude, i agree.

unenhanced photo of mine also attached

[David]

Here is the maripi from the Pitt River Museum. There are indeed some similar design elements, but i think yours is most probably a modern reproduction of this style of maripi.