Knife Handle (Kozuka) 1701 - 1712

This knife handle was made by Gotō Mitsunori in Japan, sometime before 1712. It's wrought from contrasting alloys of gold and copper, a typical palette for the Gotō family of metalworkers. This object speaks to a culture of rigorous craft traditions, where the boundary between art and design simply didn’t exist. The Gotō school refined sword-fitting artistry over centuries, and the family's name became synonymous with excellence in metalworking. The handle's design is an exquisite study in low relief, depicting figures under a roofline. In the Edo period, sword fittings were not merely functional, they were personal expressions of taste. By emphasizing the meticulous work and rich cultural context of this knife handle, we can appreciate how much it transcends mere utility. It’s a testament to the power of craft to embody social values and aesthetic ideals.