Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Unknown Artist
1785–1876
Medium
Gold, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper
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 oz. (28.3 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
36.120.396
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Knife Handle (Kozuka)*, in Japan between 1785 and1876 during the late Edo period, served as a functional yet ornate component of a samurai's sword ensemble. The *kozuka* was the handle for a small utility knife (*kogai*) tucked into the sword scabbard, blending practicality with artistry. In an era of relative peace under the Tokugawa shog, such fittings evolved from battlefield necessities into showcases of refined craftsmanship, reflecting the samurai's status and aesthetic sensibility. Masterfully fashioned from gold, shakudō (a copper-gold alloy that develops a rich black ...