Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuba, ca. mid 20th century CE. An extremely long Kuba cloth comprised of seven rectangular panels of alternating cocoa brown and beige hues, each one presenting bold stylized geometric appliques such as arrows, double-headed arrows, orbs, squares, crescents, ovals, and more. The appliques on the beige ground are brown, while those on the brown ground are beige. Each applique is stitched with thread of the contrasting hue. Such abstract geometric patterns are usually symbolic of an individual's social and marital status, age, and/or personal attributes or character. Size: 180" L x 30" H (457.2 cm x 76.2 cm)
Traditionally, kuba cloth is woven from raffia-tree leaves; this example is comprised of naturally colored fibers created via a laborious process of hand-dyeing 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 an uncut or cut-pile appearance. Kuba cloths are worn during ceremonial events; however, they are also found in tapestries and home furnishings.
Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, 1980s to 2000s
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#159561
Condition
Some staining to panels, minor areas of loosened threads/fibers, and seam between two panels has separated a bit, but otherwise very good.