Vintage Kuba Textile, Africa, Republic of Congo H: 18″

Description

Woven from strands of raffia leaves, this vintage Kuba cloth reflects the traditional traditions of the Kuba people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a typically bordered square with rough textural surfaces interspersed with repeated geometric patterns and embellished with sophisticated embroidered, applique and patchwork linear designs of interlocking meandering patterns of vegetable dye shades of dark brown and ivory in a natural flat-weave pattern framed with tufted-cut pile raffia and applique. Creating Kuba cloth is time and labor-intensive; a simple piece like this can take several days in a process shared by men and women. Men collect raffia and strip leaves and color them with vegetable dyes in  ivory, brown, clay red and indigo blue and rub strands to soften and weave fibers into strips with a Kuba heddle loom. Women then create patterns by stitching geometric raffia pieces onto a plain raffia background and finish them with embroidery, appliqué and patchwork. The raffia fiber is drawn through with a needle and snipped to create a dense plush pile juxtaposing, geometric forms, asymmetrical patterns, and textural elements to form an earthy, rough, three-dimensional texture. Patterns may reflect  the artisan’s age, social or marital status and tribe. Their used in  many design aspects has created a growing market for vintage pieces. Claims House Beautiful Magazine, “If you’re seeking an eye-catching, handsome print to bring richness to a certain corner of your home, you’ll likely find a Kuba cloth style to incorporate beautifully into your decor. ” See Vintage Kuba Cloth Textile and Yoruba Cowry Shell Crown for complementary accessories. This piece can be framed as a unique piece of wall art.

Sources

Contemporary “African art, Kuba Cloth”,

Cultural Elements Blog, “What is Kuba Cloth?”

Gabriel Davenport, The Real History of Kuba Cloth”, House Beautiful, October, 2020