Hello,
On my screen, the carved panels are also "whiter" than the empty ones, they show less patina, less yellowing. Could this indicate that they were covered at some point? Would it be probable that a separate pommel was fitted into the space and that its outside parts covered the carved panels...perhaps a chiselled/relief silver piece? (this brings to mind the payakun sword on Dajak's avatar with the inserted carved piece in the pommel)
Emanuel
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