Artwork preview

Knife Handle (Kozuka)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rectangular black object with a textured surface, oriented horizontally. A fish design is in the center, facing left. The fish has a dark gray back and lighter gray belly. It has a small dorsal fin and tail fin. The pectoral fins, pelvic fins, and anal fin are yellow-gold. The background is a light gray color. The object is likely a kozuka, a handle for a Japanese knife.

Artwork details

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