Piece

Art Historical Context

This delicate silk textile fragment, simply titled *Piece*, hails from Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868), specifically the 18th–19th century. Measuring just 5 x 5½ inches (12.70 x 13.97 cm), it the precision and refinement of Japanese woven textiles, a craft central to daily life and high fashion. Produced by an unknown artisan, such small pieces were often samples, patches, or elements from larger garments like kimonos, showcasing silk's luxurious sheen and durability. The Edo era marked a time of prolonged peace under the Tokugawa shogunate, spurring economic prosperity and artistic i...