FIVE KOZUKA (KNIFE HANDLES)
Edo period (1615-1868), 18th to 19th century
The first shibuichi, with flat inlay of gold, copper, silver, and shakudo, depicting scenes along the Kamo River, with signature Hosono Sozaemon Masamori and kao; the second shibuichi ishimeji with gold and silver, depicting a kirigirisu (katydid or bush cricket) and moon, signed Ryuhoku Haruchika with a kao (Haynes 00774, circa 1850); the third shakudo, shibuichi, silver, and gold, depicting on one side swallows above waves and on the other a lotus pond; the fourth shakudo nanako, silver, and gold within a nekogaki (striated) gilt-metal frame, depicting the race across the Uji River; the fifth chiefly shibuichi and gold, the front divided diagonally and depicting a branch of persimmon and flowers, jointly signed Zogan mon Tairyuken Tomoyoshi (Inlaid design by Tairyuken Tomoyoshi, possibly Haynes 10212) and Mon [...] Mitsuyoshi (Koretsu) (Design by Mitsuyoshi); all with a wood storage boxes (some with paper labels). (10).
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