Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Iron, gold
Dimensions
L. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); W. 9/16 in. (1.4 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 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
29.100.1249
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Knife Handle (Kozuka)*, in Japan during the Edo period (. 1615–1868), exemplifies the masterful fusion of utility and artistry in samurai culture. As a component of sword fittings, the kozuka served as the handle for a small utility knife tucked into the scabbard alongside the main katana or wakizashi. During this era of relative peace under the Tokugawa shog, such accessories evolved from mere tools into status symbols, showcasing the wearer's wealth and taste through elaborate decoration. Forged from iron with intricate gold inlays—a technique known as *zōgan*—the handle mea...