Man's Wrap Skirt (Primary Title)
Woman's Ceremonial Wrap Skirt (Former Title)
Unknown (Artist)
The raffia palm grows in abundance in western and central Africa. Its fibers supply the raw materials for weaving raffia textiles, an art form in which Kuba artisans excel. The burgundy-colored field and the black and white edging of this handsome skirt identify its owner as a person of high standing in the royal court. More than twenty feet long, the skirt would wrap a number of times around the body, creating a voluminous garment. The openwork in the red field is created by clustering groups of warp threads while leaving intervals between the groups that are spanned by the weft, creating a cool, delicate covering.
Gift of Allen and Barbara Davis in memory of Frère Joseph-Aurelien Cornet and in celebration of VMFA's 75th anniversary
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.
