Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk velvet fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Japan's Edo period (1615–8), a time of peace and prosperity that fostered vibrant artistic expression. Created by an unknown artist in the18th century, it a modest 7 3/4 x 6 1/4 inches (19.68 x 15.88 cm), suggesting it may be a remnant of a larger textile, such as a garment panel or decorative element. During the Edo era, textiles like this were central to daily life and high fashion, adorning kimonos, theater costumes, and home furnishings amid booming urban culture in cities like Edo (modern Tokyo). The use of silk velve...