Sword Pommel
circa 300 - 600 C.E.
Maker Unknown
Asian Art
These two pieces originally appeared at the ends of sword handles. Wider than the grip of the sword, the pommel keeps the weapon from slipping out of the user’s hand. Both pommels feature images of dragons; in one example, two stylized dragons play with a central ball that represents a pearl, a motif likely borrowed from Chinese art. These pieces and the magatama beads shown here were purchased by Stewart Culin, the Museum’s former Curator of Ethnography, on his first trip to Japan in 1909.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Arms and Armor
- Formatted Medium
- Gold plated bronze
- Locations
- Place made: Japan
- Period
- Likely Kofun period
- Dimensions
- 4 5/16 x 3 9/16 in. (11 x 9 cm) Base: 1 3/4 x 1 11/16 x 15/16 in. (4.5 x 4.3 x 2.4 cm) Ring: 3 3/8 x 2 11/16 in. (8.6 x 6.8 cm)
- Departments
- Asian Art
- Accession Number
- 09.910
- Credit Line
- Museum Expedition 1909, Purchased with funds given by Thomas T. Barr, E. LeGrand Beers, Carll H. de Silver, Herman B. Stutzer, Colonel Robert B. Woodward and the Museum Collection Fund
- Exhibitions
- Arts of Japan
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- Asian Galleries, Arts of Japan, 2nd floor
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