Piece
18th century
Medium
Silk and metal thread
Dimensions
L. 38 x W. 19 3/8 inches (96.5 x 49.2 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Russian, Moscow
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George D. Pratt, 1930
Accession Number
30.98.3
Art Historical Context
This exquisite woven textile, simply titled *Piece*, hails from 18th-century Moscow,, crafted by the skilled artisan Lazareff using luxurious silk and metal threads. Measuring 38 by 19⅜ inches (96.5 x 49.2 cm), it exemplifies the opulence of Russian decorative arts during an era when the Russian Empire was embracing Baroque influences while preserving Orthodox traditions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, it was generously gifted by George D. Pratt in 1930. The use of silk interwoven with shimmering metal threads—likely gold or silver—...