Knife Handle (Kozuka)
19th century
Medium
Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold
Dimensions
L. 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm); W. 9/16 in. (1.4 cm); thickness 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 1.4 oz. (39.7 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Kozuka
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Herman A. E. and Paul C. Jaehne, 1943
Accession Number
43.120.451
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Knife Handle (Kozuka)*, crafted by the renowned metalworker Gotō Mitsuyoshi (known as Shinjō) in 19th-century Japan, exemplifies the pinnacle of samurai sword fittings. Measuring just under 4 inches long, this functional yet artistic piece served as the handle for a *kozuka*—a small utility knife into the scabbard alongside a warrior's katana or wakizashi. Produced during the late Edo period, it reflects the era's blend of martial tradition and refined artistry, when metalworkers elevated everyday arms into wearable sculptures. Made from *shakudō*—a copper-gold alloy prized fo...