Piece
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
L. 5 1/4 x W. 3 inches (13.3 x 7.6 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
36.90.380
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment, simply titled *Piece*, is a rare survivor of Italian silk velvet from the 16th to 17th century, the pinnacle of Renaissance textile artistry. Measuring just 5¼ by 3 inches (13.3 x 7.6 cm), it hails from Italy's renowned weaving centers like Venice or Florence, where skilled artisans produced opulent fabrics for elite clothing, ecclesiastical vestments, and lavish furnishings. As a luxury good, such velvets symbolized wealth and status, often exported across Europe to adorn nobility and clergy. The medium—sumptuous silk velvet—highlights masterful weaving techniques: f...