Description:

**Originally Listed At $450**

Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuba, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A lengthy woven cloth panel made from raffia palm leaves with a pompom trim- measuring 29.3 feet (8.9 meters). The patterns are symbolic of an individual's social and marital status, or character, and chieftains often created and wore their own unique patterns as a legacy emblem to mark his reign. The making of such a textile is a laborious team effort: traditionally the cloth is woven by Kuba men on a single heddle loom using raffia-tree leaves and hand-dyed using mud, indigo, or the powdered bark of the camwood tree. Next, they are embroidered by women and children, and often cut to create a pile texture. Size: 352" L x 30" W (894.1 cm x 76.2 cm)

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 2000s

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#174178

  • Condition: Some tears and fraying to center weaving, most is intact and good with fraying to edges and losses to pompoms staining discoloration. Please note the massive size of this piece!

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March 1, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000