Set of Knife Handles (Kozuka) with Emblems of the Five Seasonal Festivals

Fittings maker 45.24.16, .18, and .19 inscribed by Gotō Kenjō Japanese

Fittings maker 45.24.17 inscribed by Gotō Eijō Japanese

Fittings maker 45.24.20 inscribed by Gotō Renjō (Mitsutomo) Japanese

late 16th–early 18th century

Not on view

45.24.16 features a design of a young man playing hagoita (racket and shuttlecock) on the New Year's Festival (Jinjitsu, January 7).
45.24.17 features a design of dolls, symbolic of the Girls' Festival (Jōmi, March 3).
45.24.18 features a design of miniature armor and a sword for the Boys' Festival (Tango, May 5).
45.24.19 features a design of a curtain screen, a writing brush, an ink stone, a water container, and a harp for the Star Festival (Tanabata, July 7).
45.24.20 features a design of flowers for the Chrysanthemum Festival (Chouyou, September 9).

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Set of Knife Handles (Kozuka) with Emblems of the Five Seasonal Festivals
Fittings maker: 45.24.16, .18, and .19 inscribed by Gotō Kenjō (Japanese, 1586–1663, seventh-generation Gotō master)
Fittings maker: 45.24.17 inscribed by Gotō Eijō (Japanese, 1577–1617, sixth-generation Gotō master)
Fittings maker: 45.24.20 inscribed by Gotō Renjō (Mitsutomo) (Japanese, 1628–1708, tenth-generation Gotō master)
Date: late 16th–early 18th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver, copper
Dimensions: L. of each 3 13/16 in. (9.7 cm); W. of each 9/16 in. (1.4 cm)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Kozuka
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1945
Object Number: 45.24.16–.20
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Knife Handle (Kozuka), Gotō Renjō (Mitsutomo) Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, Japanese — Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Gotō Renjō (Mitsutomo)
mid-17th–early 18th century

Knife Handle (Kozuka), Gotō Eijō Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper, Japanese — Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Gotō Eijō
late 16th–early 17th century

Knife Handle (Kozuka), Gotō Kenjō Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silverF, Japanese — Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Gotō Kenjō
mid-17th century

Knife Handle (Kozuka), Gotō Kenjō Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, Japanese — Knife Handle (Kozuka)
Gotō Kenjō
early–mid-17th century

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