The most common places of attachment for the typical metal rosettes or "lotus flowers" seem to be the guard and the pommel, although they were frequently attached to the lower end of the scabbard just below the point of the blade. This was alternatively the place for a stone, although turquoise and, to a lesser extent, coral (and their faux equivalents) were usually attached a bit lower, usually set into a decorated silver plate or some other metal. I can't tell what it is from the the photo---possibly a repair or even a staple to hold together the split.
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