Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Silver, copper, 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. 1.1 oz. (31.2 g)
Classification
Sword Furniture-Kozuka
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.1241
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Knife Handle (Kozuka)* hails from Japan during the Edo period (. 1615–1868), a time of relative peace under the Tokugawa shogunate when samurai culture reached its artistic zenith. As part of a samurai's sword ensemble, the kozuka served as the handle for a small utility knife tucked into the scabbard alongside main blade. Though the artist remains unknown, such fittings were prized status symbols, transforming functional weapons into wearable art. Crafted from silver, copper, and gold, this compact piece (just under 4 inches long) showcases the masterful metalworking techniqu...