{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/2/context.json","@type":"sc:Manifest","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/a6302a80-be12-44d5-912e-c7962861703f/manifest","label":"gaa_japanese-kodzuka-handle-with-crescent-moon-and-sea-waves-design_d70","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_japanese-kodzuka-handle-with-crescent-moon-and-sea-waves-design_d70"},{"label":"Citation","value":"Object Name, Date Original (if known), GettDigital: Asian Art Collection, Special Collections / Musselman Library, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Access Date, Link to Item"},{"label":"Repository","value":"Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College"},{"label":"Inventory Number","value":"D70"},{"label":"Part of","value":["Asian Art GettDigital Collection"]},{"label":"Provenance","value":"The Estate of Prof. Frank Kramer"},{"label":"Genre","value":["Artifacts"]},{"label":"Object Location","value":"M.3"},{"label":"Note","value":"Attributed to Kano Natsuo (or his pupils) of the Otsuki School"},{"label":"Date","value":"D:00 M:00 Y:1600 - D:00 M:00 Y:1868"},{"label":"Date Original","value":"17th-19th century CE (1600-1868 CE)"},{"label":"Era","value":["Attributed to the Edo (Tokugawa) period"]},{"label":"Measurement","value":"Height: 9.7 cm; Width: 1.5 cm"},{"label":"Medium","value":["Iron","Metal"]},{"label":"Country of Origin","value":["Japan"]},{"label":"Description","value":"The Edo or Tokugawa era of Japan (1600-1868) witnessed an unprecedented flourish of many art forms. The rise of the samurai culture and the political fermentation of this unsettling time brought out with them a modern return of the dolmen style of the art of the Japanese sword. The styles of decoration and the variety of materials used by swordsmiths form a quintessential element of Japanese literature. Japan's wealth of artistic creation demonstrates its interest in small things and the detailed treatments of them, giving evidence to remarkable skill and taste. For centuries, Japanese swordsmiths devoted their excellence to the art of decorating the samurai's sword-furniture. As part of the warrior's most valuable possessions, the Kodzuka functions as a handle, grip or hilt for the small ko-gatana knife. This iron Japanese Kodzuka is one of the finest representations of the Edo Japanese decorative sword accessory. The etching style and the abstract delicacy are doubtlessly from the last great master swordsmith Kano Natsuo (1828-1898) or his pupils.* The influence of Zen Buddhism at the time is eloquently manifested in Natsuo's unique choice of motifs and unsurpassed style (from the Otsuki School).* His etching style has a distinctive sense of elegance; it is austere, reserved, and never overflowing. There is an intentional consistency of manipulating the commanding void that dominates the whole composition.** The decorative elements employed are conceptual and very few motifs are derived from nature. This Kodzuka has the common plain oblong shape. Its outer face is sophisticatedly designed with a bold relief-etching (takabori or high carving) or raised decoration of a gold crescent moon in the background, partly eclipsed by stylized tidal waves.*** Some scattered gold dots on top of the waves suggest splashed foam. The Japanese have such great reverence for the force of nature as represented by big waves (tsunami). On the back of the piece, there are three Japanese characters meaning 'the nature of wild waves' (read from the bottom up). The waves occupy only the bottom right space of the Kodzuka, leaving a powerful void. The abstract simplicity of this remarkable composition magnificently counteracts and redeems the sense of austerity of the handle. Its balanced yet asymmetrical layout signifies the philosophy of the samurai class: the dynamic between 'configuration/principle' and the 'material energy/vital force'. Objects like this are widely collected as works of art.* * Natsuo was from the Tosando or \" The Eastern Mountain Circuit\" province. He was connected with the nineteen century Otsuki School (see Curatorial Remark below). ** For further reference on The Otsuki school's swordsmiths' style, see B. W. Robinson, The Arts of the Japanese Sword, plate 95 (by Hideoki and Tokuoki) and plate 4f (by Katsurano Fumio, a pupil of the great master Natsuo). *** The carving or modeling methods vary from the boldest relief (takabori or high carving) down to the complexion carving (nikuai-bori or shishiai-bori) in which the flat relief is actually sunk below the general level of the surface."},{"label":"Title","value":"Japanese Kodzuka handle with crescent moon and sea waves design"},{"label":"Rights","value":"Materials available through GettDigital encompass a wide range of works, many of which are in the public domain. However, some items may still be protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights. Users are responsible for determining the copyright status of materials and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws when reproducing or publishing these works. Items in our GettDigital Collections are for educational use. For assistance in understanding rights, obtaining permissions, or requesting files for publication or research purposes, please contact us at <a href=\"www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist\">www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist</a>"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/1267"}],"description":"Japanese Kodzuka handle with crescent moon and sea waves design","sequences":[{"@type":"sc:Sequence","canvases":[{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/a6302a80-be12-44d5-912e-c7962861703f/canvas/_1","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"Japanese Kodzuka handle with crescent moon and sea waves design","height":714,"width":266,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/a6302a80-be12-44d5-912e-c7962861703f/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/jpeg","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/a6302a80-be12-44d5-912e-c7962861703f","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":512,"scaleFactors":[1,2]}]},"height":714,"width":266},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/a6302a80-be12-44d5-912e-c7962861703f/canvas/_1","metadata":[]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/a6302a80-be12-44d5-912e-c7962861703f/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}}]}],"thumbnail":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/a6302a80-be12-44d5-912e-c7962861703f/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","logo":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/logo"}