Katana - Japan - Edo Period (1600-1868)

The Kozuka comes from my late uncle.
Length: 9.8 cm
Weight: 31 g

For sale is an original Japanese Kozuka, the traditional grip of a Kogatana blade, as it was used as part of the sword mounting (koshirae) of a katana or wakizashi. The piece is stylistically from the Edo period and shows the typical combination of dark metal with finely worked gold embellishments.

The front side is intricately worked in relief and depicts a standing, robed figure holding a round object. Around the figure run dynamic, cloud-like motifs that give the design a sense of movement and depth. The gold-colored elements are decorative inlays or appendages, as is common with high-quality kozuka.

The back is plain, as is typical for kozuka, and underscores the piece's function as the grip of a Kogatana. The fine metalwork, the three-dimensional rendering, and the gold accents make this kozuka an attractive collectible.