Saihai

 

Born as a tool to control the troops, the saihai changed his function during the Edo period and became an accessory to wear with the armor as a symbol of power.

The saihai's final can be in different materials; sometimes is applied directly to the stick, as in this case while some other time it hangs to a small rope. This saihai of uncommon large size and horizontal shape is inspired by western scepters. The baton is fitted with silvered applications representing some butterflies. A virtually identical object was at the Arashiyama Museum in Kyoto.