Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Diamonds on the left, zigzags on the right, and a seam refereeing the argument.

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. On a tan ground in black, with a lattice of open diamonds filling the left third and bold zigzag bands taking over the rest. The two patterns are sewn side by side. Narrow tan border cloth frames all four edges. It is 18 inches across and 23 long.

Two ideas, one panel, and neither backs down at the seam.