19TH C. Gilbert Island SHARKTOOTH SWORD, (Kiribati)
19TH C. Gilbert Island SHARKTOOTH SWORD, (Kiribati)
Origin: Micronesia, Gilbert Island (Provenance: Acquired from the collection of Roy Hamilton in Reno, Nevada. By descent through the family)
Period/Date: 19th century
Materials: hardwood, shark teeth, fiber binding, human hair binding, charcoal paint
Description: This antique shark tooth sword is presented on a custom metal display base and retains 85 percent of its original teeth. These were very labor intensive to make and each tooth is hand drilled and tightly secured with binding between two thin vertical wood spines. Its tip has applied black charcoal paint which we seldom see. The darker thread along its shaft is human hair binding which is present in several 2.5 inch bands! Note that the base of the sword has an original step cut. This may suggest that it once had angular attached appendage arms at its base which would have formed a kind of handguard? Nice use patina. Some broken and missing teeth from combat.
Dimensions: Height 30.75” (78 cm), width 1.75” (4.5 cm)