African Kuba Cloth

Hand-Crafted Kuba Cloth
This magnificent fabric is made from the leaves of the raffia tree. It is one of the best examples of the ancient African tradition of raffia cloth weaving. Brilliant embroidered designs and appliques make this unique fabric stand out. In the past, European nobility displayed kuba cloth in curio cabinets as prime examples of African artistry. More recently, the masterful abstract patterning displayed in Kuba cloth served as a source of inspiration to artists such as Klee, Picasso, and Braque. Matisse was such a fan of kuba cloth that he displayed pieces of his extensive Kuba cloth collection on the walls of his studio. It takes an African craftsperson about one month to complete a small square of kuba cloth using a laborious technique that includes dying, detailed needlework, and clipping tufts. When you own a piece of kuba cloth, you truly have a piece of Africa in your home. Sizes vary but range from 60"-82" long and from 17"-24" wide. Made in Congo. M-F154

Approx. 24" X 25". Superior quality, placemat sized Kuba Cloth. M-F171

Kuba cloth is just starting to become popular in the United States. Using the leaf of the raffia tree, the Kuba people of the Congo first hand cut, and then weave the strips of leaf to make pieces of fabric, often called raffia cloth.

Each fabric, each pattern, and each design in traditional kuba fabrics has great meaning. Sizes vary from 20-28" wide x 9-14 ft. long. Made in Congo. M-F150