Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, simply titled *Piece*, hails from Japan during the 18th–19th centuries, a time when the country’s Edo and early Meiji periods flourished with masterful craftsmanship. Measuring just 6¼ x 5¼ inches, this small woven square exemplifies the precision of Japanese textile arts, where silk was prized for its luster and versatility. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1896 by collectors Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, it reflects the growing Western fascination with Asian artistry at the turn of the century. Woven textiles like this were central to Japane...