Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

A big X at the center, flanked by squared spirals and bold diamonds.

This Shoowa prestige panel is Kuba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is piled raffia. The Kuba are known for raffia textiles in which a few simple elements are repeated and varied until the surface seems to move. Big black and cream motifs occupy a central X-shaped axis, with hooked spirals on the left and nested diamonds around the border zone. Edges are hemmed in tan. It is 21.5 inches across and 23 long.

Bold geometry, and a spiral that cannot resist showing off.