Piece
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk and metal thread
Dimensions
21 1/2 x 6 5/8 inches (54.6 x 16.8 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of H. A. Elsberg, 1928
Accession Number
28.48.17
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 19th-century French textile fragment, simply titled *Piece*, showcases the artistry of anonymous weavers in Europe's golden age of decorative arts. Measuring 21½ x 6⅝ inches (54.6 x 16.8 cm), its narrow form suggests it may have served as a decorative band, trimming for garments, or an element of luxurious upholstery. Adorned with floral motifs—evident from its tags—this woven silk and metal thread creation captures the period's fascination with nature-inspired elegance, blooming vividly against a shimmering ground. Crafted in France, a hub of silk production centered in Lyon, ...