Assembled of individually worked panels sewn together, this skirt is embellished with an ever-shifting array of patterns. Although Kuba men are responsible for preparing and weaving raffia, Kuba women decorate the cloth with imagination and artistry. To make a skirt of this size, several women from the same extended family would contribute different sections. Raffia textiles have long been an important part of Kuba artistic production. At the turn of the century, when this skirt was made, European visitors to the kingdom commented on the richly patterned raffia textiles that were worn and displayed at public festivals and funerals.
Culture
- Kuba
Title
- Man's Overskirt
Origin
- Democratic Republic of Congo
Date
- Made 1901–1987
Medium
- Center field: raffia, plain weave; stamped or painted; borders: alternating bands of cotton and raffia, plain and twill weaves; resist dyed, painted, or stamped; and raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in running stitches cut to form pile; all edged with raffia, plain weave with knotted, cut pompons; end: raffia, plain weave; tie-dyed; joined with raffia yarns in pearl stitches
Dimensions
- 60.4 × 171.3 cm (23 3/4 × 67 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
- Dr. and Mrs. Magnus P. Urnes Endowment
Reference Number
- 1987.322
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