![]()  | 
	
| 
			
			 | 
		#1 | 
| 
			
			 Member 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Feb 2006 
				
				
				
					Posts: 31
				 
				
				
				
				
				 | 
	
	
	
		
		
			
			 
			
			Does anybody ever see this thing in museum or book ?   
		
		
		
			 
		 | 
| 
		 | 
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
			 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
	 | 
| 
			
			 | 
		#2 | 
| 
			
			 Member 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Jan 2007 
				
				
				
					Posts: 181
				 
				
				
				
				
				 | 
	
	
	
		
		
			
			 
			
			Never seen one before, but it looks like a dagger hilt, and for some reason my hindbrain said "Aztec?" as the source of inspiration.  I presume it's gold? 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	Fenris  | 
| 
		 | 
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
			 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
	 | 
| 
			
			 | 
		#3 | 
| 
			
			 Member 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Dec 2004 
				Location: What is still UK 
				
				
					Posts: 5,925
				 
				
				
				
				
				 | 
	
	
	
		
		
			
			 
			
			They could be interlaced dragons, warring states 5th century B.C, China? Gold ceremonial sword hilt?
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	 | 
| 
		 | 
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
			 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
	 | 
| 
			
			 | 
		#4 | 
| 
			
			 Member 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Jan 2006 
				Location: Kent 
				
				
					Posts: 2,658
				 
				
				
				
				
				 | 
	
	
	
		
		
			
			 
			
			Hi Shangrila, 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	I must admit my first reaction is Aztec/Mayan styled, the snake was worshipped in their mythology.....and I can see scales. As Tim has said...or dragons   Is it yours? Could you post a close-up of the 'hilt' ?
		 | 
| 
		 | 
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
			 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
	 | 
| 
			
			 | 
		#5 | 
| 
			
			 EAAF Staff 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Dec 2004 
				Location: Louisville, KY 
				
				
					Posts: 7,345
				 
				
				
				
				
				 | 
	
	
	
		
		
			
			 
			
			Yes I have seen this before, it is an ancient golden Chinese dagger/sword hilt. 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	Tim got it on the first try (Good on you mate!)  
		 | 
| 
		 | 
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
			 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
	 | 
| 
			
			 | 
		#6 | 
| 
			
			 Member 
			
			
			
				
			
			Join Date: Feb 2006 
				
				
				
					Posts: 31
				 
				
				
				
				
				 | 
	
	
	
		
		
			
			 
			
			It's supposed to be a hilt coming from Eastern Zhou dynasty, 6th-5th century BC.   
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	  Now it's maybe in NY Museum, one guy says.
		 | 
| 
		 | 
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
			 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
		
		
	 | 
![]()  | 
	
	
		
  | 
	
		
  |