Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1615–1868
Medium
Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold
Dimensions
L. 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm); W. 9/16 in. (1.4 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 0.9 oz. (25.5 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
29.100.1286
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Knife Handle (Kozuka)*, in Japan during the Edo period (. 1615–1868), served as a functional yet artistic component of a samurai's sword ensemble. Inserted into the scabbard (saya) alongside the main blade, the kozuka held a small utility knife for tasks like sharpening or daily use. In an era of relative peace under the Tokug shogunate, such sword fittings evolved from practical armor into lavish displays of wealth and craftsmanship, blending utility with aesthetic refinement. Made from shibuichi—a copper-silver alloy prized for its subtle, smoky patina— the handle is adorned...