Description: This very large Kuba cloth textile is 21" wide x 21 " long but the measurement varies slightly since the piece is not perfectly square. The pattern is made of small squares of raised plush fibers in black and tan forming a checkerboard design. Embroidered bands surround each of the squares to further enhance the design. The reverse is solid tan woven raffia with some of this solid fabric forming a hem around the entire piece to give it a finished look. It is in excellent original vintage condition. Cloths such as this come from the Kuba kingdom of central Africa, in modern-day Democratic Republic of Congo where these beautiful textiles are the primary cultural export from this bustling society. They are made in a time-intensive process involving multiple people. First, the raffia fibers, made from the leaves of the raffia palm tree, are harvested, stripped, dried and kneaded for an initial softening. The strands are then dyed using vegetable dyes, creating the shades of white, brown, and black. The woven textile is then produced on an inclined heddle loom, usually by male weavers. At this point, another round of dyeing or kneading may take place, before handing the piece off for "finishing" work typically carried out by Kuba women. 100% of the proceeds of this sale will be donated to Samaritan's Purse
Price: 62 USD
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
End Time: 2025-01-21T18:46:26.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Country/Region of Manufacture: Congo
Culture: African
Handmade: Yes
