Artwork preview

Knife Handle (Kozuka)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rectangular gold-colored metal object with rounded edges. A bird perched on a thorny branch is depicted in the center. The bird is gray with a white speckled pattern on its body and a yellow beak and talons. It faces left. The branch has several thorns and extends to the left edge. The object is set against a light gray background.

Artwork details

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