Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuba, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A woven of Kuba cloth panel made from raffia and cotton using cut-pile and embroidery techniques to create bold geometric patterns in neutral tones of black and warm beige. The making of such a textile is a laborious team effort: traditionally, Kuba cloth is woven from raffia-tree leaves; this example is comprised of natural cotton or wool fibers that were hand-dyed via a laborious process using mud, indigo, or the powdered bark of the camwood tree. Such cloths are usually created by Kuba men on a single heddle loom. Next, they are embroidered by women and children to create either an uncut or a cut-pile appearance that resembles a velvet or velour - which is the texture of this piece. Size: 24" L x 25" W (61 cm x 63.5 cm)

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s

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#174180

Minor staining and discoloration. Fraying to fibers along hems, but overall great condition. Tightly woven and no losses to interior fibers.