African Kuba Shoowa Cloth, Framed

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Description

Framed piece of Kuba cut-pile Shoowa cloth dating from 1930s. This has been recently framed.
Fabric size approximately 24" x … Read more Framed piece of Kuba cut-pile Shoowa cloth dating from 1930s. This has been recently framed.
Fabric size approximately 24" x 23"

Kuba, Shoowa textiles from the Kuba kingdom (current day Democratic Republic of Congo) are among the most distinctive works of African art. The Kuba kingdom grew into a wealthy and powerful and wealthy confederation of different ethnic groups in the early 17th century.
These fabrics are made from the leaf of the raffia tree- they are first hand cut and then strips of leaf are woven to make pieces of fabric, often called raffia cloth. They were generally woven by men, embroidered by women with no stitching visible on the back. Highly prized for their complex patterns, they are further embellished with tight tufting, leading to the nickname "Kasai velvet".

There are several different groups of Kuba people, each having their own unique textiles. They were often traded as currency, and were the standard by which a family's wealth and status were judged.
These cloths are not fragile. This item is Vintage, authentic and one of a kind. It has signs of wear and tear that do not in any way detract from the item. See less