Piece
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
L. 7 1/2 x W. 6 1/4 inches (19.1 x 15.9 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Velvets
Culture
Italian
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
36.90.313
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment, titled simply *Piece*, is a rare survivor of Italian silk velvet from the 16th to 17th century. just 7½ by 6¼ inches, it exemplifies the opulent textiles produced in Renaissance and early Baroque Italy, where cities like Venice and Florence were renowned for their weaving mastery. Likely cut from a larger garment, altar hanging, or ecclesiastical vestment, this small swatch invites us to imagine the grandeur of sumptuous interiors and attire worn by nobility and clergy. Silk velvet, classified here as a textile-velvet, was a pinnacle of technical innovation during thi...