Help identifying an old relic & with casting: Hello! I found this piece in my neighbors barn. His father was an collector of Japanese art a long time ago. Unfortunately, my friend (now in his 70's) does not recall what this was originally attached to. As you can see, it has a beautiful patina and appears to be very old. It is approximately 12" in length. I was wondering if anyone here might be able to help me identify what era it originated from. Also, I have an idea that involves creating a mold from this piece and casting some very cool door pulls! Can anyone make some suggestions in regards to the proper approach to accomplishing this endeavor (e.g. mold making technique, casting media, etc.)? Any help would be appreciated! Dino