Collection
/
Asian Art

Sword Pommel

circa 300 – 600 C.E.

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

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.

Caption

Sword Pommel, circa 300 – 600 C.E.. Gold plated bronze, 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). Brooklyn Museum, 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, 09.910. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Collection

Asian Art

Title

Sword Pommel

Date

circa 300 – 600 C.E.

Period

Likely Kofun period

Geography

Place made: Japan

Medium

Gold plated bronze

Classification

Arms and Armor

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)

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

Accession Number

09.910

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