Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Pale maze lines with black diamonds and a few brown wedges tucked into the lower rows.

This Shoowa prestige panel is Kuba, from Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is piled raffia. Kuba cloth begins with the fibers of the raffia palm, and the embroidery that covers it is slow, patient work. Thin black meander lines on a pale cream ground form angular arrows with black diamonds in between. Small hourglass shapes sit at center, and brown triangles show in the lower section. A pale narrow hem edges the cloth. The panel is 21 inches wide by 26 long.

Light and mazy, with brown wedges added for a little mischief.