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Hunter Gatherer

African Kuba Cloth Textile Runner Tapestry Wall Hanging Brown, Beige and Grey

African Kuba Cloth Textile Runner Tapestry Wall Hanging Brown, Beige and Grey

The Kuba cloth is a one of a kind fabric which has its origin from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. They are also popularly referred to as African Kuba Cloth. They have worldwide appreciation because of the graphic, monochromatic and intricate designs and the finishing done by the surface decoration on the base cloth. There are several variants of this Kuba textile, but the base design is a rectangular piece made out of woven palm leaf fiber and improvised by complex geometric designs in the linear embroidery which also resembles velvet once cut to form pile surfaces.

Kuba cloth is regarded as an old fabric and a model material which has survived all through the seventeenth century till contemporary time. Kuba cloth is a product of joint effort made by the men and the women of Congo, the entire social society is said to be involved in the manufacturing of the Kuba textiles. The men weave the fabric from the Raffia fibers, while the women decorate the cloth by applying colorful tufts in various geometric designs. The process involved in making the unique textile includes the gathering of the fibers, the weaving of the base cloth, dyeing, embroideries, and patchworks.

To make the art piece dense, the designs made by the women are stitched to the woven fabric.. As generations passed, hundreds of designs were created for the African Kuba cloth. However, the base model remains the same with a slightly different elaboration by the new weaver. Two worldwide recognized models include the applique and the patchwork which are created as a method of decoration for the patching of holes.

Historically, the Kuba cloth was fashioned as a ceremonial garment and was mainly worn for wedding ceremonies and funerals. The Congolese people have been known to be buried in the same cloth and the mourners apparently wore voluminous skirts made out of the fabric.
This textile measure 96 1/2 inches by 24 inches
Regular price $145.00
Regular price Sale price $145.00
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