Embroidered plush textiles are produced exclusively by royal Kuba women, and are worn, wrapped around the waist and secured with a belt, only by upper class women and men. People of lower classes may wear textiles in the same manner, but do not wear embroidered cloths. The base cloth, made from raffia (fibers from the raffia palm tree,) is normally woven by men, but all of the decorative work is done by women. The textiles are generally covered with geometric patterns, similar to patterns found on Kuba basket work, woodwork, sculpture, and female body scarifications. Patterns may be given names, but the same pattern will likely be given a different name by different people. There are no universal meanings attached to these motifs. The textiles are often called "velvets" because of their plush texture. At one time, textiles like this were made throughout much of central Africa, but today the Kuba are the only people continuing the practice.
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Design cloth
Shoowa peoples (Kuba sub-group)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
20th century
Cut pile raffia fiber, pigment
Gift of Phyllis and Sheldon Ross, 1994/1.82
Kuba artists apply their bold and sophisticated surface design to ceremonial and everyday objects alike. One of the most impressive expressions of this aesthetic tradition is cloth made from raffia fiber, a hardy and ubiquitous material that in Kuba thought symbolizes abundance and wealth. Decorated raffia cloth was used as currency and for public display at events such as the funerals of high-ranking titleholders—a practice that continues today. Men weave the base cloth, and women design, dye, and embroider it. Cloth designs are named, often after the women who created them, but in this case the name of the design is not known. Produced also for the international market, Kuba cloth—and imitations of its designs—can be found in shops and private collections around the world.
This cut-pile raffia cloth is typical of those made by the Shoowa, a Kuba subgroup. In cloth made for their own use, the Shoowa use an overall balanced pattern, a deep plush, and even lines. In cloth like this one, produced for the external market, artists juxtaposed different patterns and varied the fill-in designs.
(6/29/10)
Gallery Rotation Spring/Summer 2010
Design cloth
Shoowa peoples (Kuba sub-group)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
20th century
Cut pile raffia fiber, pigment
Gift of Phyllis and Sheldon Ross, 1994/1.82
Kuba artists apply their bold and sophisticated surface design to ceremonial and everyday objects alike. One of the most impressive expressions of this aesthetic tradition is cloth made from raffia fiber, a hardy and ubiquitous material that in Kuba thought symbolizes abundance and wealth. Decorated raffia cloth was used as currency and for public display at events such as the funerals of high-ranking titleholders—a practice that continues today. Men weave the base cloth, and women design, dye, and embroider it. Cloth designs are named, often after the women who created them, but in this case the name of the design is not known. Produced also for the international market, Kuba cloth—and imitations of its designs—can be found in shops and private collections around the world.
This cut-pile raffia cloth is typical of those made by the Shoowa, a Kuba subgroup. In cloth made for their own use, the Shoowa use an overall balanced pattern, a deep plush, and even lines. In cloth like this one, produced for the external market, artists juxtaposed different patterns and varied the fill-in designs.
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please fax a request to the attention of Orian Neumann, Assistant Registrar, at 734-474-7643. For other queries, email orian@umich.edu.edu.
Embroidered plush textiles are produced exclusively by royal Kuba women, and are worn, wrapped around the waist and secured with a belt, only by upper class women and men. People of lower classes may wear textiles in the same manner, but do not wear embroidered cloths. The base cloth, made from raffia (fibers from the raffia palm tree,) is normally woven by men, but all of the decorative work is done by women. The textiles are generally covered with geometric patterns, similar to patterns found on Kuba basket work, woodwork, sculpture, and female body scarifications. Patterns may be given names, but the same pattern will likely be given a different name by different people. There are no universal meanings attached to these motifs. The textiles are often called "velvets" because of their plush texture. At one time, textiles like this were made throughout much of central Africa, but today the Kuba are the only people continuing the practice.
---
Design cloth
Shoowa peoples (Kuba sub-group)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
20th century
Cut pile raffia fiber, pigment
Gift of Phyllis and Sheldon Ross, 1994/1.82
Kuba artists apply their bold and sophisticated surface design to ceremonial and everyday objects alike. One of the most impressive expressions of this aesthetic tradition is cloth made from raffia fiber, a hardy and ubiquitous material that in Kuba thought symbolizes abundance and wealth. Decorated raffia cloth was used as currency and for public display at events such as the funerals of high-ranking titleholders—a practice that continues today. Men weave the base cloth, and women design, dye, and embroider it. Cloth designs are named, often after the women who created them, but in this case the name of the design is not known. Produced also for the international market, Kuba cloth—and imitations of its designs—can be found in shops and private collections around the world.
This cut-pile raffia cloth is typical of those made by the Shoowa, a Kuba subgroup. In cloth made for their own use, the Shoowa use an overall balanced pattern, a deep plush, and even lines. In cloth like this one, produced for the external market, artists juxtaposed different patterns and varied the fill-in designs.
(6/29/10)
Gallery Rotation Spring/Summer 2010
Design cloth
Shoowa peoples (Kuba sub-group)
Democratic Republic of the Congo
20th century
Cut pile raffia fiber, pigment
Gift of Phyllis and Sheldon Ross, 1994/1.82
Kuba artists apply their bold and sophisticated surface design to ceremonial and everyday objects alike. One of the most impressive expressions of this aesthetic tradition is cloth made from raffia fiber, a hardy and ubiquitous material that in Kuba thought symbolizes abundance and wealth. Decorated raffia cloth was used as currency and for public display at events such as the funerals of high-ranking titleholders—a practice that continues today. Men weave the base cloth, and women design, dye, and embroider it. Cloth designs are named, often after the women who created them, but in this case the name of the design is not known. Produced also for the international market, Kuba cloth—and imitations of its designs—can be found in shops and private collections around the world.
This cut-pile raffia cloth is typical of those made by the Shoowa, a Kuba subgroup. In cloth made for their own use, the Shoowa use an overall balanced pattern, a deep plush, and even lines. In cloth like this one, produced for the external market, artists juxtaposed different patterns and varied the fill-in designs.
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please fax a request to the attention of Orian Neumann, Assistant Registrar, at 734-474-7643. For other queries, email orian@umich.edu.edu.
Embroidered plush textiles are produced exclusively by royal Kuba women, and are worn, wrapped around the waist and secured with a belt, only by upper class women and men. People of lower classes may wear textiles in the same manner, but do not wear embroidered cloths. The base cloth, made from raffia (fibers from the raffia palm tree,) is normally woven by men, but all of the decorative work is done by women. The textiles are generally covered with geometric patterns, similar to patterns found on Kuba basket work, woodwork, sculpture, and female body scarifications. Patterns may be given names, but the same pattern will likely be given a different name by different people. There are no universal meanings attached to these motifs. The textiles are often called "velvets" because of their plush texture. At one time, textiles like this were made throughout much of central Africa, but today the Kuba are the only people continuing the practice.
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please fax a request to the attention of Orian Neumann, Assistant Registrar, at 734-474-7643. For other queries, email orian@umich.edu.edu.
