Piece

Art Historical Context

This delicate silk textile fragment, simply titled *Piece*, hails from Japan during the 18th–19th, a time when the country bridged the opulent Edo period and the transformative Meiji era. Measuring just 3¼ x 1½ inches, its diminutive size hints at its possible use as a sample, patch, or component of a larger garment like a kimono obi sash—items central to Japanese fashion and social customs. Crafted through intricate weaving techniques, this artwork exemplifies Japan's mastery of silk production, a craft refined over centuries in regions like Nishijin in Kyoto. Silk threads, prized for their ...