Donor Name:

United States Exploring Expedition  Search this

Length - Object:

59 cm

Culture:

Gilbertese  Search this

Object Type:

Sword

Place:

Kiribati, Micronesia

Accession Date:

1858

Collection Date:

1838 to 1842

Notes:

WOODEN SHORT SWORD WITH TWO ROWS OF SHARKS TEETH POINTS LASHED THROUGH DRILLED HOLES ONTO PALM LEAF RIBS; THE RIBS ARE THEN LASHED TO THE WOODEN SWORD BY MEANS OF BRAIDED COCONUT FIBER CORD. BRAIDED HUMAN HAIR IS WRAPPED AROUND THE SWORD JUST BELOW THE ROWS OF SHARKS TEETH. HAS ORIGINAL PEALE TAG NO. 651; "GILBERT EX EX KINGSMILL IS." WRITTEN ON THE SWORD. EXHIBITED MAGNIFICENT VOYAGERS, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 1985-86.

This object was on display in the National Museum of Natural History exhibit "Objects of Wonder", 2017 - 2024.

Record Last Modified:

15 Jan 2025

Specimen Count:

1

Topic:

Ethnology  Search this

Accession Number:

66A00050

USNM Number:

E3694-0

See more items in:

Anthropology

Data Source:

NMNH - Anthropology Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3183f4873-f771-40bf-94e8-e1f78c4d8507

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhanthropology_8411927