Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Outlined diamonds on a pale ground, with a few black ones hiding in plain sight.

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. Fine double-outlined diamonds on a pale cream ground cover the cloth in all-over rows, with a handful of solid black diamonds scattered among them. Toward the lower right the pattern gets more crowded. The edge is cleanly hemmed. The panel is 21 inches wide by 23.5 long.

A quiet field, and just a few black sheep.