Artwork preview

Knife Handle (Kozuka)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rectangular metal object with dark brown patina, flat and straight edges. A relief design on the bottom features a gold-colored base. On the left, a black bird with gold eyes faces right, standing on a gold mound. A gray half-circle shape sits behind the bird. On the right, a bird with a black body and white speckled wings lies down facing left. The background of the metal object is darker at the top and lighter at the bottom. The object is set against a light gray background. Title: Knife Handle (Kozuka). Artist: Unspecified.

Artwork details

Date:
dated 1784
Medium:
Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver
Culture:
Japanese
Dimensions:
599 × 337 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette