Knife Handle (Kozuka) With Lotus Motif (蓮図小柄)

Japanese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 199

The upper plate of this kozuka is of copper and carved in high relief, representing lotus, whose leaves and seeds are highlighted in gold. The reverse is of shibuichi, polished, and decorated with file marks (yasurime).

A kozuka is a handle of a by-knife that is part of a sword mounting. It is kept in a slot on the reverse of a katana scabbard, often with a matching kōgai (hairdressing tool).

Knife Handle (<i>Kozuka</i>) With Lotus Motif (蓮図小柄), Copper, copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, Japanese

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Knife Handle (<i>Kozuka</i>) With Lotus Motif (蓮図小柄), Copper, copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, Japanese
Knife Handle (<i>Kozuka</i>) With Lotus Motif (蓮図小柄), Copper, copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, Japanese
Knife Handle (<i>Kozuka</i>) With Lotus Motif (蓮図小柄), Copper, copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, Japanese
Knife Handle (<i>Kozuka</i>) With Lotus Motif (蓮図小柄), Copper, copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, Japanese
Knife Handle (<i>Kozuka</i>) With Lotus Motif (蓮図小柄), Copper, copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, Japanese

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