Travel And Trade South Africa: BEST AFRICAN TEXTILES

Saturday, 12 May 2012

BEST AFRICAN TEXTILES – KUBA CLOTH

In post - Renaissance Europe, Kuba Cloth, the embroidered and appliqué decorated raffia cloth from the Congo (formerly Zaire), entered the curio cabinets and treasuries of nobles and kings as the finest representation of African art. More recently, the mastery of Kuba cloths' abstract patterning was a source of inspiration to artists such as Matisse, who displayed part of his large collection on the wall of his studio. www.phasesafrica.com directly trade with the Congo's most renowned source on Kuba and Shoowa Cloth.

Kuba Cloth by: © Phases Africa (dot) com

This textile is tightly woven using strands from raffia palm leaves. Kuba cloth comes in two styles. One has a flat weave with little or no pile while the other has a velvety rich pile. Vegetable dyes are used as colour on the raffia threads and then embroidered onto finished cloth to create patterns such as circles, rectangles, creative curvatures, and lines. Kuba cloth is used for ceremonial skirts, wall hangings, or mats for sitting and sleeping on.