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Shark Tooth Hand Sword, mid 19th Century
I-Kiribati culture; Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, Micron…
Sword (Tetoanea or Tewinnarei)
Shark Tooth Hand Sword, mid 19th Century
I-Kiribati culture; Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, Micron…
Shark Tooth Hand Sword, mid 19th Century I-Kiribati culture; Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia Palm wood, shark skin, shark teeth, reed and sennit; 19 × 2 1/2 × 3/4 in. 2014.17.1 Bowers Museum Purchase
Bowers Museum

Sword (Tetoanea or Tewinnarei)

ClassificationsArms and Armor-swords
Culture I-Kiribati
Datemid 19th Century
Made AtRepublic of Kiribati
MediumPalm wood, shark skin, shark teeth, reed and sennit
Dimensions19 × 2 1/2 × 3/4 in. (48.3 × 6.4 × 1.9 cm)
Credit LineBowers Museum Purchase
Object number2014.17.1
DescriptionThis hand sword is one of many traditional weapons made with shark teeth on the Gilbert Islands. Known possibly as tetoanea or tewimarei, this sword would have been used in close proximity to a foe in hand-to-hand combat. Sharks were important culturally to the people of Gilbert Islands and their teeth were used for many various weapons and objects. Larger shark tooth weapons were the main implement of defense in ritual duels held to defend honor and settle disputes. A man would have an entire ensemble that included various shark tooth weapons, armor made from tightly woven coconut fiber, a belt of stingray skin, palm leaf hand covers with shark teeth attached and a helmet of a dried and hollowed out puffer fish. The teeth of tiger sharks were very often used to fashion the weapons featured in this ensemble. By studying the teeth used in weaponry, scholars have learned that many of the species used are no longer found in the Gilbert Islands. The Field Museum has a collection of 124 shark tooth weapons from the Gilbert Islands.

The indigenous name for the Gilbert Islands is Tungaru, with independence the islands were renamed Kiribati. The people of the Islands sometimes refer themselves as I-Tungaru or I-Kiribati.
On View
On view
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