Knife Handle (Kozuka)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The object is a long, rectangular metal piece with a dark bronze color and a smooth, flat surface. It has rounded edges and a slightly curved shape. The object features an embossed design with a dragonfly on the left side, made of copper. The dragonfly has a copper body and wings. To the right of the dragonfly is a small oval object. A leafy branch extends to the right, featuring leaves and stems in shades of gold, green, and bronze. A jumping frog is on the right side of the branch. Two additional dragonflies are on the right side, one flying above the other. The background of the image is a solid light gray color. The overall design and style suggest that the object is a Kozuka, a type of Japanese handle.