Kozuka with design of temple bell and Benkei doll

Takamitsu (Japanese)

Yanagawa School

1864

Medium/TechniqueMain material: shibuichi; surface treatment: ishime-ji; other metals: iron, gold, silver and shakudo; decorative technique: takazogan and iroe hirazogan

DimensionsOverall: 9.8 x 1.5 x 0.4 cm (3 7/8 x 9/16 x 3/16 in.)

Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession number11.23860a

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsArms and armor

Collections

Asia

InscriptionsKinoe Bunkyu gannen shogatsu hi Ton; On a day in the first month of the first year of Bunkyu, kinoe (=1864) 甲文久元年正月日東雲ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.