Piece

Art Historical Context

This delicate woven silk *Piece* from Japan's Edo period (16151868), dating to the 18th–19th century, exemplifies refined artistry of Japanese textiles. Measuring just 7¾ x 8¾ inches, this small fragment likely served as a sample or part of a larger garment, such as a kimono sash or accessory. Its intricate leaf motifs, rendered in luxurious silk threads, evoke the natural beauty celebrated in Japanese aesthetics, where foliage often symbolizes seasonal change, renewal, and harmony with nature. During the Edo era, a time of relative peace and economic prosperity under the Tokugawa shogunate, ...