This piece of raffia cloth is typical of that made by the Shoowa, a Kuba group who live south of the Sankuru river. Its style--the overall balanced pattern, the deep plush and even lines--is what they make for their own use and differs markedly from the style they use for export to other Kuba groups. It is used by the purchasers in a wide variety of ways as currency, household furnishings.
Description:
Rectangular panel of natural and dark brown woven raffia cloth with diamond pattern in concentric forms of natural cut pile.
Provenance:
Eliot Elisofon, New York, -- to 1973
Content Statement:
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