Description: This very large Kuba cloth textile is 22" wide x 33" long, including the fringe. The measurement varies slightly since the piece is not perfectly rectangular. The pattern is made of small squares in black, brown and light tan. White wide strips bordered in gray are embroidered on top to form the unique design. The long fringe that surrounds the cloth is unusual as most Kuba cloths are bordered in the plain woven raffia that is turned into a hem that runs around all sides. It is in excellent original vintage ondition. This cloth comes 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.
Price: 55 USD
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
End Time: 2025-01-17T15:55:31.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Country/Region of Manufacture: Congo
Culture: African
Handmade: Yes
