Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
L. 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm); W. 9/16 in. (1.4 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 1.2 oz. (34 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
36.120.342
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver *kozuka*, or knife handle, from 18th-century Japan, exemplifies the masterful fusion of function and artistry in samurai sword fittings. During the Edo period (1603–1868), a time of relative peace, warriors turned their skills toward elaborate decoration for weapons, transforming practical items like the *kozuka*—a small utility knife into the sword scabbard—into coveted works of art. Measuring just under 4 inches long, handle would have complemented a katana or wakizashi, showcasing the wearer's refined taste. Crafted from silver, the medium allowed for intricate techni...