Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk velvet *Piece*, crafted by an unknown artist in 19th-century France, exemplifies the pinnacle of European textile artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decor Arts, it was generously gifted by The United Piece Dye Works in1936. As a prime example of French velvets, this fragment highlights the era's mastery in luxurious fabric production, likely originating from renowned silk hubs like Lyon, where weaving traditions flourished amid the Industrial Revolution's innovations. Velvet's distinctive pile weave—created by cutting loo...