Piece
Unknown Artist
1780–90
Medium
Silk and metal thread
Dimensions
L. 31 1/4 x W. 16 inches 79.4 x 40.6 cm
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The United Piece Dye Works, 1936
Accession Number
36.90.200
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite textile fragment, simply titled *Piece*, hails from late 18th-century France (1780–90) and showcases the opulent craftsmanship of the era. Woven from luxurious silk and shimmering metal threads, it measures 31¼ x 16 inches and features delicate motifs of flowers and leaves—a hallmark of French decorative arts during the waning years of the Ancien Régime. Produced in the renowned weaving centers like Lyon, such pieces were prized for their intricate patterns, often adorning gowns, furnishings, or wall hangings in aristocratic homes. The use of metal threads, likely gold or silve...