Late Edo period
Donated by Satō Seiji
A menuki is a decorative metal ornament on the hilt of the katana, typically tucked under the silk wrappings of the grip to conceal a nail.
This menuki was made by Katsurano Sekibun (1789–1875), a master craftsman in the Sakai clan of the Shōnai domain.Daikokuten is a a syncretic Japanese deity of fortune and wealth. Hotei is the pot-bellied god of happiness. Both are part of the Seven Deities of Good Fortune.