Textile Sample from Sample Book

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silk textile sample, measuring just 1 x 1 inches, hails from a 19th-century sample book, a practical used by merchants to showcase intricate patterns to potential clients. Produced during Japan's Meiji era (1868–1912), a time rapid modernization blending tradition with Western influences, samples highlight the enduring mastery of Japanese weaving. Adorning the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art collection since its acquisition through the Rogers Fund in 9, this piece exemplifies the precision of woven textiles in everyday and luxury goods. Craft from fine silk, the fabric feature...