Piece
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk / Compound weave
Dimensions
11 7/8 × 5 1/2 in. (30.2 × 14 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
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
20.148.981
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Japan's Edo period (1615–8), specifically the 18th century time of relative peace and prosperity that fueled vibrant artistic expression. Produced by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the era's mastery of woven textiles, often used in luxurious garments like kimonos or decorative screens. Measuring just 11⅞ × 5½ inches, this small yet intricate piece entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection in 192 as a gift from Kihei Hattori, honoring his father. Crafted in a compound weave technique—a sophisticated ...