I purchased this in a regional city in France. The handle is angular. It's drier than it appears in the photos, and looks a bit whiter in person, but I couldn't capture the true color. I think the original color will return if you add some oil. Please check the photos for the condition and make sure you are satisfied. The material of the knife blade is unknown. It's very lovely. Originally a set of 12, but I'd like to keep some for myself, so I'm selling 8. I think it's a good size for Japanese tableware. In France, it's about the size of a dessert knife, so I think it's a versatile size for appetizers, cake, cheese, etc. As shown in the last photo, I was planning to use the buffalo horn chopstick rests, which I am selling separately, as cutlery rests, but I haven't had a chance to use them, so I'm selling them to organize my collection. The cutlery rests are listed separately, and the price on this page is for the knives only.