Fuchigashira with dragonfly design

Fuchigashira is a set of sword fittings attaching to the two ends of the hilt for reinforcement; the ring-shaped collar on the head, and the cap-shaped pommel on the end.
These two sets of fuchigashira were created by a master craftsman, Sonobe Yoshitsugu (1775-1842), in Edo (now Tokyo). They were made for a pair of long and short swords. Each piece has a design of flying dragonfly swarms which is depicted in bright gold on a beautiful black background of shakudo (alloy of copper and gold).
In the past, dragonflies had been called ‘Katsumushi (winning insect)’. Dragonflies symbolized victory for samurai warriors because they head straight for their enemies, never retreating; therefore, dragonflies were often used as a motif for arms and armors.