Object Details
- Label Text
- This piece of raffia cloth is typical of that made by the Shoowa, who live south of the Sankuru River, for local trade with other Kuba groups living north of the river. Its style-with lots of negative space, quick running stitches and flat square tufts--differs dramatically from the styles the Shoowa produce for their own use. It is a style of cloth that has changed remarkably little in the last hundred years. The Shoowa refer to it as "quickly made." It is sold almost as yardage and is used by the purchasers in a wide variety of ways: as clothing, currency and household furnishings.
- Description
- Low cut pile embroidered raffia cloth with triangle and lozenge patterns and lozenge outline stitch embroidery forming a four block square.
- Provenance
- Emil E.O. Gorlia, Belgian Congo, 1905-1927 to before 1977
- Sandford M. Harris, Oak Harbor, Washington, before 1977 to 1999
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Kuba artist
- Date
- Early 20th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of S. M. Harris
- Medium
- Raffia, dye
- Dimensions
- H x W: 59.7 x 53 cm (23 1/2 x 20 7/8 in.)
- Type
- Textile and Fiber Arts
