Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Interlocked orange, brown and black bands, plaited like a giant pretzel.

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 pile on a Shoowa cloth is cut raffia, sheared to an even nap that collectors often call Kasai velvet. Plaited bands in black and brown run over and under each other on a golden ground, with small orange diamonds between. The interlace is mirrored down the center and the palette is warm. The border is a narrow tan hem. It measures 22 inches wide and 24.5 long.

A pretzel in cloth form, and clearly proud of its twists.