Textile Sample in Sample Book

Art Historical Context

This delicate silk textile sample, housed in a 19th Japanese sample book, offers a glimpse into the bustling world of Edo- and early Meiji-period commerce. Measuring just 4½ × 2½ inches, this woven fragment from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art collection was likely part of a merchant's portfolio, used to showcase high-quality fabrics to potential buyers. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 9, it exemplifies Japan's renowned silk production, a cornerstone of its economy during a time of rapid modernization. Woven silk held immense cultural significance in Japan, where textiles adorned kim...