Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile fragment, titled *Piece*, hails from Japan during the 18th19th century, a time when Edo-period artisans mastered intricate weaving techniques to create luxurious fabrics for clothing, screens, and ceremonial objects. Measuring 16½ x 8¼ inches, this woven silk exemplifies the precision of Japanese textile craftsmanship, where fine threads were interlaced on looms to produce durable yet delicate patterns. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1896 by Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer—prominent collectors of Asian art—it now resides in the Asian Art department, offer...