dagger; hilt BM-1937-0416.218

Period:Eastern Zhou dynasty Production date:6thC BC-5thC BC (circa)
Materials:gold
Technique:cast

Dimensions:Height: 9.80 centimetres

Description:
Openwork cast gold sword hilt, decorated with interlaced dragons.
IMG


Comments:Rawson 1995:Recent excavations have demonstrated that from the eighth century BC gold was widespread. Fittings and rings of gold appear regularly in late Western Zhou tombs and in tombs of the eighth to sixth century in Henan and Shaanxi. Gold is likely to have worked its way into the heart of China from the West and in many cases it is found as part of weapons. Iron daggers or short swords from Shaanxi Baoji Yimen have gold handles that are earlier in date than, but similar in shape, to this one. Items of gold will be copied by jade carvers, specially from the Qin state. Furthermore, the arrangement of dragon interlace is matched on ceramic interlace mould and pattern block fragments found at the bronze foundry site at Houma, so it is almost certainly that patterns on gold were being copied in bronze too. Michaelson 2006:The openwork decoration of this cast gold sword hilt was derived from Central Asia. The design is based on repeated units forming the image of a winged dragon. The spirals and granulation make up the dragon parts – a mass of bodies and stubby wings with a sprinkling of heads. This hilt shape is known from Central Asian and Bactrian blades and is also characteristic of the steppe region. Its rounded relief surfaces and fine detailing reflect the light with great effect. It would have been attached to a bronze or cast-iron blade but was probably only intended for display, as the gold would have been too fragile for actual use.