Kuba Shoowa Prestige Panel

There was a large shared vocabulary of named patterns, and every Kuba artist knew it. Then each of them changed it.

No two panels are quite alike. This Shoowa prestige panel, woven and embroidered in raffia in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 20th century, zigzags interlacing bands of tan and black across the field, enclosing diamond clusters of black and cream checkerboard squares. Some motifs are edged in pale cream, adding light and depth. The tones are warm and earthy, from deep black to honey and soft brown. A darker woven border frames it, about 21.5 by 23.5 inches.

Variation on a theme, with a very good ear.