Japanese Antique Kozuka . SJ106

Japanese Antique Kozuka with blade. Insect type design with gold and silver highlights on handle. Blade with kanji. Most likely Early to Mid Edo period. Handle length approximately 3 3/4 inches, approximately 8 inches overall length. Worn condition.

Additional Notes: The Japanese kozuka serves as the handle of a small utility knife carried within the scabbard of Japanese daggers and swords. This decorative part of a sword mounting is often elaborately decorated, revealing the status, wealth, and style of its owner. The kozuka specifically refers to the handle of a small Japanese knife called kogatana, however, among collectors, the whole knife is often referred to as kozuka. The kozuka was often designed to match the kogai (hairdressing tool). It was made to fit into the sides of Japanese sword scabbards, such as those of the katana, wakizashi, and tanto.  A kozuka was often elaborate and of fine craftsmanship, decorated with carvings, inlays, and colored metals. Those made from copper-gold-alloy (shakudo) with golden elements were popular among samurai and typically worn on formal occasions.

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