Piece
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk / Compound weave
Dimensions
1 1/4 × 5 7/8 in. (3.2 × 14.9 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Kihei Hattori, in memory of his father, Kihei Hattori, 1920
Accession Number
20.148.396
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from 18th-century China during the Qing dynasty (164–1911), a age for imperial craftsmanship and luxury goods. Measuring just 1¼ × 5⅞ inches (3.2 × 14.9 cm), this diminutive woven sample exemplifies the finesse of Chinese silk production, which was a cornerstone of the empire's economy and cultural prestige. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1920 by Kihei Hattori in memory of his father, it now resides in the Asian Art department, offering a tangible glimpse into everyday opulence. Crafted using a compound weave tec...