Piece
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
6 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (16.51 x 18.41 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo (1615–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1896
Accession Number
96.14.716
Art Historical Context
This delicate silk textile fragment, titled *Piece*, hails from Japan during the late Edo period (1615–1868) or early Meiji era (1868–1912), a time of artistic refinement and cultural transition. Measuring just 6½ x 7¼ inches, it exemplifies the exquisite woven textiles that were central to Japanese daily life and luxury goods, such as kimonos, obi sashes, and ceremonial robes. Silk weaving reached new heights in these centuries, with artisans employing sophisticated Jacquard-like looms to create intricate patterns symbolizing nature, seasons, or auspicious motifs—hallmarks of Japan's enduring...