Gilt bronze sword pommel
From Japan
Kofun period,
6th century AD
This gilt bronze pommel was made for a straight
single-edged iron sword, and is an example of the annular, or
ring-shaped type. They often contained designs originating in China
or Korea, particularly pairs of phoenixes or dragons. Chinese and
early Japanese pieces like this were cast in one piece, but later
Japanese examples were also cut from
plate.
The hole in the base
received a pin fixing the pommel to the end of the
hilt.