Piece
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
L. 10 1/2 x W. 3 3/4 inches (26.7 x 9.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Velvets
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
36.90.1169
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk velvet fragment, simply titled *Piece*, hails from 18th-century France, a golden age for luxurious textiles when the silk industry flourished in Lyon, the epicenter of Europe's weaving innovation. Measuring just 10½ by 3¾ inches (26.7 x 9.5 cm), this yet opulent swatch exemplifies the era's mastery of velvet production—a labor-intensive technique involving cut and uncut loops to create a plush, light-reflecting pile. French velvets like this were prized for their richness, adorning royal courts, fashionable garments, and sumptuous interiors during the lavish Rococo period. ...