Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Japan's Edo period (16151868), a time of relative peace and cultural flourishing under the Tokugawa shogunate. Woven in the 18th or 19th century, compact dimensions—7 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches—suggest it may have been a sample, decorative band, or part of a garment like an obi. Crafted by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the masterful weaving techniques of Japanese artisans, who interlaced fine silk threads to create intricate patterns, often featuring motifs from nature. Birds, as indicated by the artwork's tags, are a hallmar...