Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, woven in Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868), a serene snapshot of everyday life with delicate depictions of houses nestled among trees and small human figures. Measuring just 6 3/4 x 6 1/2 inches, this intimate "Piece" exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of 18th–19th Japanese weaving. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1896 by collectors Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, it reflects the growing Western fascination with Asian arts at the time. Edo-era textiles like this one were prized for their technical virtuosity, achieved through complex Jacq...