Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Japan during the 18th19th centuries, a period when the country’s weaving traditions flourished under the Edo and early Meiji eras. Measuring just 2¼ x 4 inches (5.71 x 10.16 cm), its diminutive size belies the masterful craftsmanship of Japanese silk production, renowned for its luminosity, durability, and intricate patterns used in garments like kimonos and obiashes. As a woven textile, it exemplifies *kasuri* or figured silk techniques, where threads are pre-dyed to create subtle motifs, reflecting the artisanal precisio...