Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Japan during the 18th19th centuries, a golden era for the country's renowned weaving traditions. Measuring just 6¼ x 7¾ inches, this small woven panel showcases the meticulous craftsmanship of anonymous artisans, likely from workshops specializing in luxurious fabrics for garments like kimonos or decorative screens. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum Art in 1896 by collectors Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, it early Western fascination with Japanese art amid the global Japonisme movement. Woven from fine silk, the medium it...