Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

Overlapping diagonal strips that look like basketry, with black triangles for spice.

This Shoowa prestige panel is Kuba, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is piled raffia. Kuba cloth begins with the fibers of the raffia palm, and the embroidery that covers it is slow, patient work. Pale gray-green diagonal bands cross each other in a plaited effect, with fine black stripes and scattered black triangles between. The tone is soft and muted. The edges are hemmed, with slight rippling along the sides. It is 21 inches across and 23 long.

Cloth that has quietly taken up a second career as a basket.