KUBA Pieces

Textiles, whether worn on the body as clothing or displayed independently, were central to Kuba cultural expression. Cloth was woven from the fibers of the raffia palm by Kuba men and then given to Kuba women, who stitched the separate pieces together, dyed them, and decorated them. Wrappers for both men and women were created from several panels of cloth and embellished with appliquéd cloth or with embroidered geometric designs.

Single panels of cloth embroidered with dyed raffia thread that were then cut to create a plush pile cloth. Similar textiles were made to the west by the Pende and Kongo peoples, and it is possible that Kuba artisans acquired this art form through trade with these peoples. These panels were not worn but displayed, and served as currency and markers of prestige. The panels featured here contain interlocking abstract patterns in tan and black. The overall composition is asymmetrical and irregular, and it is impossible to predict the appearance of the entire panel from one section alone.

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York website: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/318398