A GILT-BRONZE SWORD POMMEL JAPAN, KOFUN PERIOD, 6TH CENTURY

of oval form, cast and pierced with two confronting dragons holding a tama, their scaly bodies minimalised into stylised scrolls, all encircled by a rounded key-fret border, the gilt-bronze patinated with malachite encrustations

The Nitta Collection, Japan.
An American private collection, purchased in 1992-93.

The present pommel was originally fitted on an iron sword, which were first introduced in Japan from China around the 2nd century AD. Traditionally, the pommel and sword blade were formed from the same piece of iron. It was not until the 4th century when gilt-bronze pommels were introduced to Japan from China or Korea.

In the 6th century, gilt-bronze sword pommels were often designed with single or confronting dragons or phoenix, and subsequently fitted into iron swords. A similar example in the Tokyo National Museum was illustrated in Sato Kanzan, Token Nippon Bijutsu Series, no. 10, Tokyo, 1966. The sword was described as one of the 'Three Sacred Treasures' in the earliest history of Japan, it serves as a momemto to the power of the unification of Japan under the Yamato court.