About this artwork
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.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Textiles
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Culture
- Kuba
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Title
- Woman's Ceremonial Skirt
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Place
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (Object made in)
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Date
- Made 1875–1925
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Medium
- Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in buttonhole, pearl, and stem stitches, and running stitches cut to form pile; edged with raffia and hemp, plain weave, 2:2 oblique interlacing, and raffia-wrapped-raffia cord
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Dimensions
- 165.2 × 78.8 cm (65 × 31 in.)
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Credit Line
- Gift of Richard Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection
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Reference Number
- 1993.490
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
