Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Fat diagonal bands in black, orange and tan cross like a very large game of pick-up sticks.

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. Broad diagonal stripes in black, orange and tan cross and fold at the center in a bold, large scale pattern, with chevron points at the corners. The pile looks thick. A cream border cloth frames the edges. It measures 21 inches wide and 26.5 long.

Big, loud and sunset-colored, with no apology offered or needed.