Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled simply *Piece*, hails from Japan's Edo period (16151868), a time of remarkable peace, prosperity, and cultural under the Tokugawa shogunate. Measuring just 5¾ x 3 inches, this small woven artifact exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of Japanese textile artists, whose anonymity was common in traditional workshops. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum Art in 1896 by Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, it offers a glimpse into the opulent world of silk production that defined elite fashion and daily life. During the Edo era, silk weaving reached new heights...