Piece

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk velvet fragment, simply titled *Piece*, hails from 18th-century China during Qing dynasty (16441911), a golden age of imperial splendor under emperors like Kangxi and Qianlong. Measuring just 12¼ x 4¾ inches, it the era's mastery of textile arts, when silk production reached unparalleled heights as a cornerstone of Chinese economy and culture. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1909, it now graces the Metropolitan Museum of Art Asian Art collection, offering a tangible link to the opulent world of courtly life. Crafted in velvet—a luxurious weave where short pile creates ...