Artwork preview

Knife Handle (Kozuka)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a dark brown, rectangular metal object with rounded edges. The object, titled "Knife Handle (Kozuka)" and attributed to an unspecified artist, features three raised designs on its surface. The left design depicts a bird-like creature with a long tail, the middle design appears to be a mythical creature with horns, and the right design resembles a snake or dragon. The object's surface exhibits a dark brown patina with areas of green and red oxidation. The background of the image is a light gray color.

Artwork details

Date:
ca. 1615–1868
Medium:
Iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
Culture:
Japanese
Dimensions:
599 × 337 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette