Piece
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
Silk and metal thread
Dimensions
L. 15 1/4 x W. 12 inches (38.7 x 30.5 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Velvets
Culture
Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of The United Piece Dye Works, 1936
Accession Number
36.90.264
Art Historical Context
This exquisite velvet fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Italy during the opulent 16th–17th centuries, a golden age for textile arts in Renaissance and early Baroque Europe. Measuring 15¼ x 12 inches (38.7 x 30.5 cm), it is woven from luxurious silk and shimmering metal threads, exemplifying the masterful cut-pile technique of Italian velvet production. These velvets, often produced in renowned centers like Genoa and Venice, were prized for their texture and light-reflecting surfaces, transforming fabric into a canvas of subtle luxury. The use of metal threads—likely gold or silver—a...