Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Nested octagons and little hourglasses fill every inch with fussy concentric rings.

This Shoowa prestige panel is Kuba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 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. Cream and black concentric outlines form elongated hexagons across the field, each holding tiny hourglass and diamond centers. The scale is fine and the ground is pale. A thick tuft of fringe hangs along the bottom edge. It is 24.75 inches across and 33 long.

Every ring has a smaller ring inside, and the maker enjoyed that.