Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, known simply as *Piece*, hails from Japan's Edo period (1615–8), a time of peace and cultural flourishing under the Tokugawa shogunate. Measuring just 4 3/8 × 4 1/2 inches, this small woven square exemplifies the refined artistry of 18th-century Japanese textile production. During the Edo era, silk weaving reached new heights, serving not only everyday fashion like kimonos but also ceremonial garments and interior decorations, reflecting Japan's sophisticated appreciation for natural motifs and subtle elegance. Crafted in a compound weave—a complex techni...