Knife Handle (Kozuka) 1740 - 1850

This is a knife handle or Kozuka, created by Hamano Haruyuki in Japan during the 19th century. It's made from copper alloy inlaid with gold, silver and bronze. At this time, Japan was undergoing rapid social change, and the art world was being shaped by the growing influence of the West and the decline of the samurai class. Kozuka knife handles were often decorated with intricate designs that reflected the owner's status, taste, and cultural interests. Here, the depiction of a demonic figure alongside a man could be interpreted as a commentary on the social and political tensions of the time. The image may represent the struggle between tradition and modernity, or the conflict between different social classes. As historians, we use a range of resources, including museum collections, historical documents, and scholarly articles, to understand the social and institutional context in which art is made. By examining the cultural references and visual codes in this Kozuka, we can gain insight into the complex social forces that shaped its creation.