Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Small chocolate and black diamonds in a neat, pale lattice, ruled like graph paper.

This Shoowa prestige panel is Kuba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is piled raffia. Shoowa embroiderers generally work in geometric designs, and the patterns are often said to be composed as the stitching goes. Small diamonds in black and rust-brown are held by a cream lattice, covering the cloth edge to edge in a fine, even grid. A few diamonds carry bright dots. The hem is plain and the edges are slightly wavy. The panel is 20 inches wide by 21 long.

Graph paper for people who prefer a bit of warmth.