Maori Maripi

[VANDOO]

I HAVE BEEN PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER ON MARIPPI FOR REFERENCE SO THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO PUT IT. THE GENERAL OPINION IS THESE WERE NEVER USED AS WEAPONS BUT AS KNIVES PERHAPS ONLY FOR RITUAL USE OR MAYBE GENERAL PURPOSES? I WOULD TEND TO THINK THE FANCY ONES WERE FOR SPECIAL USE PERHAPS IN PREPARING MEAT FOR THE CHIEF OR OTHER PEOPLE OF IMPORTANCE. THEY HAVE SOME WELL CARVED FUNNELS FOR FEEDING PEOPLE OF HIGH RANK AS WELL AND PERHAPS OTHER IMPLEMENTS. THERE ARE MORE PLAIN EXAMPLES AROUND BUT MUSEUMS MOSTLY DISPLAY THE FANCY ONES LIKE THESE. THE USE OF THIS TYPE OF SHARK TOOTH IS LIKELY TO HAVE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE AS IT IS THE ONE USED ON THE FANCY EXAMPLES WHERE MORE COMMON TYPES CAN BE FOUND ON THE MORE PLAIN ONES. CONJECTURE BUT LOGICAL.
#1. 11.5 INCH. PICTURE FROM 1927
#2. FOUR OLD EXAMPLES FROM OLD BOOK
#3. GIFT TO MUSEUM 1912, 215 MM. X 53 MM.
#4.OLD EXAMPLE NO INFORMATION
#5. MAORI CHIEFS KNIFE CIRCA 1807
#6. ARE ALL NEWER TOURIST TYPES WITH NO REAL TEETH.
#7. NO INFORMATION
#8. 2 KNIVES THIN ONE WITH DIFFERENT KIND OF TEETH. AUCKLAND MUSEUM
#9. EXAMPLE IN BRITISH MUSEUM
#10. SAME AS #1. HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
#11. THREE MARIPPI OLD BOOK PLATE.
#12. NO MORE INFORMATION BUT THE TEETH DON'T LOOK CORRECT.