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Hi,

I have spent several hours trying to figure out what this object with no results.

Its about 14 inches long is clearly hammered and forged from iron then inlayed or damascened with silver. very heavy.

I would love to hear the thoughts of others on this one.

Thanks!

I love a mystery...
IMHO this is Chinese, decorated in silver with Buddhist symbols and a t-fret background. The form of the two ends are similar to the Imperial Ruyie Sceptre, a sort of wand about 16 inches long, with a bent foliate head, which represent the sacred fungus.
What it is for, have no idea, too heavy for wear, too small for a horse, perhaps a large statue's head ornament???

I was drifting toward the "sino-tibetan" as there seems to be some feeling that this sort of work is tibetan.

I forgot to mention that I have two of these, but they do not match in decoration. The other is inlayed with gold and silver and has bats and shou symbols. Almost identical in form and base material.

A head ornament is a fascinating idea, never crossed my mind, I will look into that.

Well, my faint memory of Chinese head dress with protusions on the side of the head served me well.
I have found several images that I will prep to right size and upload here of Chinese male figures, with in regal intricate robes, holding a ruyie, and wearing a two part head dress. This item we are discussing is positionned on the back of the head, and there is another decorative segment that sits on top of the head.
These have been called immortals, yet none of the Daoist immortals hold a ruyie spectre, that would be the emperor?.... Then again, since these are mythical figures that have been part of Chinese culture for centuries, there are probably many kinds of interpretation over time.

Here are images I promised, in the meantime I went back to pin this Chinese figure down and came up with another Chinese folklore deity called CAISHEW, God of Wealth and Prosperity, often seen during Chinese New Year celebration to this day, where men dress up with long fake beard, fancy clothes and head dress for parties.
Images represent a metal statue which is 4 feet high, a metal figurine's back, and a silk wall hanging of Caishew holding a ruyi spectre and sometimes an ingot in the other hand.

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