7th - 5th century B.C. knife with hedgehog

"Knife surmounted by a hedgehog
Northeast China, 7th - 5th century B.C.
Bronze
Length: 5 1/4 in. (13.3cm)
Ex coll.: James Freeman, Kyoto

A small hedgehog adorns the stud that projects outward from
the hilt of this knife. Shown in profile with its head down, the
hedgehog has tiny raised marks on its body to indicate the
spines. One side of the hilt has a vertical intaglio design in
sequence: three thin horizontal lines, two single birds with
outspread wings, three horizontal lines, three single birds, and
three more horizontal lines. The other side is decorated by
two standing animals. The hedgehog was probably precast and
then cast onto the knife, which displays mold marks along
the edges, the result of piece-mold casting. The knife tip has
broken off.

Hedgehogs, friendly nocturnal creatures, are represented
on numerous artifacts associated with the nomadic peoples
beyond the northern frontier of China. A finial in the Museum
of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, depicts a hedgehog that
is very similar to this one. The Thaw knife must have served
as a minor tool, as it is too small to grasp firmly with the whole
hand. Knives with a decorated stud at the end of the hilt are
found chiefly among grave goods in Northeast China dating
from the eighth to the fifth century B.C."

screenshot from source: Nomadic Art of the Eastern Eurasian Steppes https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publ...