The art of the Kuba of Zaire, which ranges from pipes to drinking cups, metal weapons to basketry and furniture to textiles, is remarkable for its’ exploration of abstract patterning. The Kuba’s primary contemporary use of the cloth is at important funeral celebrations of wealthy elders which is why the traditional techniques used to produce the cloth have survived; such events are held in high regard. Thus we continue to have an inspiring glimpse of the extraordinary creative talents of the Kuba textile designers. Until it was replaced by cowry shells, the basic unit of Kuba cloth, the Mbal, was used as currency as well as background for the cut-pile embroidery done exclusively by women. Once the background Kuba cloth is woven and dyed, a job designated solely for men. Color for the raffia threads are produced from local plant dyes. The detailed sections of this cloth has been interestingly composed of woven raffia with plant seeds and cowrie shells.

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Dimensions: 11 1/2 feet  x 21 inches across.

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