Wooden sword edged with shark teeth from the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati. The Gilbert Islands are known for making a wide range of shark-toothed weapons for use in ritual combat. This sword would have been used to stab and cut during hand-to-hand combat.
swords
wood (plant material)
tooth
Sword
Stephen Phillips House (Salem, Mass.),
E48,125
FD314
Unknown
Pacific Island Group
2 3/4 (W) (inches)
Gift of the Stephen Phillips Memorial Charitable Trust for Historic Preservation
2006.44.3610
www.oceaniaart.com/prodict.aspx?pid=Gilbert-Islands-Sword
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