Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

A long column of black zigzags flanked by patches that never matched the plan.

This Shoowa prestige panel is Kuba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is woven & 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. A central vertical band of black and orange zigzags runs the length of the cloth, flanked by square patches of fine herringbone, meander and diamond patterns. Many pieces are joined, with visible seams, and a small hole near the top corner. It is 22 inches across and 47 long.

Scrap-bag brilliance, stitched together with admirable confidence.