Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Two patterns, one cloth, and a seam where they politely disagree.

This Shoowa prestige panel is Kuba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is piled raffia. Cut-pile raffia of this kind is usually attributed to the Shoowa, a Kuba people of the Kasai region, and was traditionally made by women. On a rose-pink ground, the upper left shows bold angular chevrons in black and tan. The rest is a field of fine small diamonds. The sewn join between the two sections is clearly visible and the outline is slightly irregular. The panel is 19 inches wide by 22 long.

Two designers, one needle, and a very civil compromise.