Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi)
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
29.100.1284
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite knife handle, known as a *kozuka*, hails from Japan during the Edo period (. 1615–1868), a time of relative peace under the Tokug shogunate when samurai culture emphasized artistry over warfare. Crafted as part of sword furniture, the *kozuka* served as the handle for a small utility knife (*kogai*) tucked into the scabbard alongside a samurai's main blades. Though functional, these fittings became lavish status symbols, showcasing the wearer's wealth and taste through intricate metalwork. Made from shibuichi—a copper-silver alloy prized for its subtle, smoky patina that mimics...