Piece
Unknown Artist
16th–17th century
Medium
Silk and metal thread
Dimensions
L. 5 1/4 x W. 2 3/4 inches (13.3 x 7.0 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
36.90.379
Art Historical Context
This exquisite fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Italy during the opulent 16th–17th centuries, a golden era for European luxury textiles. Woven from silk and shimmering metal threads, this small velvet panel—measuring just 5¼ x 2¾ inches—exemplifies the masterful craftsmanship of Italian weavers, likely from renowned centers like Genoa or Venice. Velvets like this were prized for their plush texture and luminous pile, achieved through intricate looms that created cut or uncut loops, often enriched with metallic accents for a regal glow. In historical context, such textiles symbolize...