Kuba Tcaka or Dance Skirt

A black and cream patchwork of tiny boxes, ovals and chunky shapes with real punch.

This tcaka or dance skirt is Kuba, from Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is applique raffia. Abstract geometric designs on the cloth act as a visual language valued across Kuba society, and some say it grew from scarification patterns, crop patterns or even divine intervention. Long narrow textile with a graphic mix of cream and black, covered in small ovals, bars and boxed marks, with chunky black stepped shapes along the edges and occasional touches of red. It is 27 inches wide and 189 long.

Sharp, lively and nicely high on contrast.