Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, dates to the early18th century and hails from either France or Italy, reflecting the opulent textile traditions of Europe's Baroque era. Woven with intricate floral and leafy motifs—evident in its delicate patterns of blooming flowers and lush foliage—it measures a modest 17 x 19 3/4 inches (43.2 x 50.2 cm). As a prime example of woven silk from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European and Decorative Arts collection, it showcases the era's mastery of luxurious fabrics, often used for garments, furnishings, or ecclesiastical vestment...