Textile Sample from Sample Book

Art Historical Context

This delicate 6 x 6-inch silk textile, hailing from a 19th-century Japanese sample, offers a glimpse into the exquisite world of Edo and early Meiji-era weaving traditions. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1909 and now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Asian Art Department, this woven square exemplifies the precision and artistry of Japan's textile artisans, whose anonymous craftsmanship powered a thriving export industry. Crafted from luxurious silk—a material Japan mastered through centuries of sericulture—the piece highlights advanced loom techniques that allowed for intricate pat...