Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Rows of black chevrons nest into each other, like geese in formation.

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. Stacked chevrons in black and tan in nested outlines cover the cloth in tidy horizontal rows. Small diamonds appear between them, and a thin tan border frames the panel. It measures 23 inches wide and 23.5 long.

Marching in step, and not one goose out of line.