Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Pale plaited ribbons knot themselves around black wedges on a cream field.

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 ground and interlaced bands in tan outline, twisting vertically in two wide columns with black wedge shapes between them. The edges are hemmed in a soft pink. It is 20 inches across and 20.5 long.

A pattern that looks tied rather than woven, and quite pleased about it.