Piece
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
2 x 2 3/4 in. (5.08 x 6.99 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Japan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1896
Accession Number
96.14.1086
Art Historical Context
This delicate silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Japan during the 18th–19th centuries, a time when the country’s weaving traditions reached extraordinary heights of refinement. Measuring just 2 x 2¾ inches (5.08 x 6.99 cm), this diminutive woven artwork exemplifies the precision of Japanese textile craftsmanship from the late Edo period into the early Meiji era. Silk, prized for its luster and durability, was a cornerstone of Japanese luxury goods, often produced in renowned centers like Kyoto’s Nishijin district. As a woven textile, it showcases the intricate loom techn...