Fragment
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Silk, metal thread
Dimensions
16 1/4 × 18 3/4 in. (41.3 × 47.6 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Woven
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Nanette B. Kelekian, in honor of Olga Raggio, 2002
Accession Number
2002.494.425
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fragment* from 18th-century Italy, woven in silk and shimmering metal thread, captures the opulence of Baroque-era decorative arts. Measuring 16¼ × 18¾ inches, it showcases intricate floral and leafy motifs—delicate blooms and foliage rendered with masterful precision. As a textile fragment, it likely originated from a larger luxury item, such as ecclesiastical vestments, upholstery, or fashionable garments, highlighting Italy's renowned silk-weaving tradition in cities like Venice and Genoa. use of silk, prized for its luster and drape, combined with metal threads (often gol...