Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

Gridded labyrinths in grey ink fill this pale strip, ending in plain, creamy cloth.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is embroidered raffia. Kuba cloth comes from the Kuba Kingdom in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where men and women work side by side to make cloths that carry a great deal of symbolism. Long textile with fine line patterns of tight mazes and squares in dark grey across a pale ground. The bottom section turns into a plain tan band, and the whole length shows soft folds and a slightly rippled edge. It is 29 inches wide and 117 long.

Quite possibly drawn by a very patient surveyor.