Kuba Textile Square /Shoowa Raffia Handwoven from Congo by the Kuba Society made from Raffia Palm Fibers and retailer Dyes

These are one of a kind pieces from a private collection of African Tribal and Contemporary Art. These unique pieces were discovered in villages and markets over a period of 20 years while living and traveling in Southern and Central Africa. All of the items that are part of this Tribal Art Collection are at least 30 yrs old, and many of them date further back.

We do not recommend laundering textiles, and do not accept returns of textiles which have been laundered in any manner. Even dry cleaning is too much for some of these antique textiles. For some of them, a very gentle HAND washing (NEVER MACHINE, on any setting) in cool water with a very gentle detergent works, but even then, dyes may not be colorfast, and fabric may be less strong than retailer it appears.

Kuba Textile Square /Shoowa Raffia Handwoven from Congo by the Kuba Society made from Raffia Palm Fibers and Dyes
"The most commonly known of the Kuba textiles are the cut-pile Shoowa or Kasai Velvets, named after the river along which the Ba Kuba live. Improvisation and irregularity characterize the Kasai Velvets. This is because the weaver works without a plan or preliminary sketching, though the model can occasionally be displayed on the cloth in advance using black thread. Often the design is built up from memory, repeating the most common designs and color combinations found in the region. The message conveyed is up to the artist, who is the only one who can explain what he or she intended to represent."
"Originally Kasai Velvets were used as currency, and were valuable products for trade and exchange. They could be included in the tribute villagers paid annually to the King, in the dowries of matrimonial exchanges, and in funeral gifts and offerings to the dead. They also served to embellish the royal court, cover the royal thrones, and decorate the King's palace wall. Colonial agents and missionaries arriving in the Kuba Kingdom in the nineteenth century were fascinated by the Kasai Velvets, and encouraged women to produce more of them to adorn religious vestments for Catholic missionaries and decorate the interiors of European houses."


Returns & exchanges
I gladly accept returns and cancellations
Contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back within: 14 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 2 hours of purchase
I don't accept exchanges
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