Investiture Sword Pommel, 16th century, Holy Roman Empire of the West 1500-1530

Magnificent and unique "investiture" sword pommel or "Schwertknauf", made of mercury-gilded copper alloy in the early 16th century. This pommel, of a very rare four-faced type, is composed of a cage with four niches, each containing a small plate sculpted and chiseled in high relief to admirably form the entire figure of an important character.

The talented "Magister Aurifaber" or (master goldsmith) executed this exceptional work of art with extraordinary skill, perfectly defining the appearance of the four characters present as well as the elements characterizing their "Status Nobilitas" such as: the head adorned with crown, the scepter of command, the shield in arms or the sumptuous clothing alternating with brilliant parts of weapons and metal armour, elements which allow us to identify them perfectly as Reigning Sovereigns, Kings or Emperors.

Also fundamental to fully understand the meaning of all the elements present in use by the characters depicted are the presence of the "Progenitor" stick, or a stick generally made of olive wood which in ancient times (see period paintings) had the task of symbolizing the character from which a dynasty of rulers had originated, and furthermore, a heraldic shield with "arms" identified as a rampant Lion, a symbol attributed to "Courage, Strength and Nobility".
Finally, the corners of this extraordinary knob are adorned by four balustrade-shaped buttresses where faces of typical Gothic-Renaissance heritage emerge in high relief, identifiable as "Geniuses" or "Guardian Gods" who, since the Imperial age, were considered supernatural entities and had the task of protecting Sovereigns and Emperors with their homes.

Having noted the magnificence of this apple, the characters carefully represented with their symbolism and embellished with superb mercury gilding, a privilege of the most beautiful objects belonging to powerful Sovereigns of the time, it is believed that it was an integral and essential part of an exclusive type of sword called "investiture", used by a Sovereign or Ruler in a period between 1500 and 1530, and attributable to the historical and artistic context of the Central European Holy Roman Empire.

The only sword pommel currently known to possess a very high level of manufacturing with such extraordinary characteristics.

The Pomo is accompanied by an important and detailed Oplological Expertise drawn up by an Expert (historian of ancient weapons).