Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Iron, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
Dimensions
L. 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm); W. 9/16 in. (1.4 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 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
The Howard Mansfield Collection, Gift of Howard Mansfield, 1936
Accession Number
36.120.329
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century Japanese *kozuka*, or knife handle, is a example of sword furniture from the Edo period, when samurai culture flourished. Carried as a utility knife alongside larger katana and wakizashi swords, the *kozuka* was both functional and a canvas for artistry, slipped into a scabbard pocket for quick access. Measuring just under 4 inches long, its compact form belies the masterful craftsmanship typical of Japan's arms and armor tradition. Crafted primarily from iron, the handle is enriched with silver, shibuichi (a copper-silver alloy with a subdued patina), and shakudō ...