Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

A maze of squared scrolls in tan, finished off with a block of rusty orange.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is embroidered & applique raffia. Uneven or crooked stitches are seen as attractive imperfections showing the cloth was made carefully by hand, and its patterns, passed down through generations, can be repetitive or entirely spontaneous. Long textile strip covered in interlocking squared-off spirals in dark lines on a pale tan ground. The lower end changes to a plain orange-brown panel, and the edges are slightly uneven and softly worn. It is 31 inches wide and 216 long.

Every line turns a corner, politely and often.