Piece

Art Historical Context

This delicate silk fragment, woven in a compound technique during Japan's Edo period (1615–8), exemplifies the era's mastery of textile artistry. Measuring just 8⅝ × 2 inches, this narrow piece likely originated from a garment sash, accessory, or decorative band, showcasing the precision of 18th-century weavers. The compound weave sophisticated method using multiple warp and weft sets—allowed for intricate, multi-layered patterns in a single cloth, a hallmark of luxury production in urban centers like Kyoto and Nishijin. In the prosperous Edo period, textiles were a canvas for cultural expres...