Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Josui, sometimes also signed under the art name Sankōdō, was one of the very few female artists in the history of Japanese sword fitting makers. Little is known about her apart from that she studied in Edo with the famous master Murakami Jochiku (村上如竹), who was active at the end of the 18th century, and that she signed with a reference to her being a descendant of the Kamo family, as seen on this kozuka. One tradition has it that she was master Jochiku’s daughter.
This kozuka (knife handle) is of shakudō (copper-gold alloy), has a textured surface finish (ishime-ji), and shows, via an inlaid gold decor (suemon-zōgan), the relief (takabori) of a passionflower (tokeisō) which was introduced to Japan during the Kyōhō era (享保, 1716–1736). The reverse is polished and features a gold inlay, a technique which is referred to as sogetsugi.
This kozuka (knife handle) is of shakudō (copper-gold alloy), has a textured surface finish (ishime-ji), and shows, via an inlaid gold decor (suemon-zōgan), the relief (takabori) of a passionflower (tokeisō) which was introduced to Japan during the Kyōhō era (享保, 1716–1736). The reverse is polished and features a gold inlay, a technique which is referred to as sogetsugi.
Artwork Details
- Title: Knife Handle (Kozuka)
- Fittings maker: Signed by 山光堂如水 (Sankōdō Josui) (Japanese, Edo, active ca. late 18th–early 19th century)
- Date: ca. 1615–1868
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold
- Dimensions: L. 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm); W. 9/16 in. (1.4 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 cm); Wt. 1.3 oz. (36.9 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Kozuka
- Credit Line: Gift of Herman A. E. and Paul C. Jaehne, 1943
- Object Number: 43.120.589
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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