Piece
Unknown Artist
18th–19th century
Medium
Silk
Dimensions
6 x 2 1/4 in. (15.24 x 5.71 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
96.14.1348
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate silk textile fragment, titled *Piece*, hails from Japan during the 18th–19th, a time when Edo-period artisans perfected intricate weaving techniques amid a flourishing culture of nature-inspired designs. Measuring just 6 x 2¼ inches, its small scale suggests it may have been part of a larger garment, such as a kimono sash or accessory, showcasing the precision of Japanese textile craftsmanship. Woven from fine silk, the piece features motifs of leaves, a recurring theme in Japanese art symbolizing seasonal change, renewal, and the ephemeral beauty of nature—core tenets of philos...