KUBA BARKCLOTH TEXTILES, DRC

KUBA Barkcloth 51 80" long x 28" wide $1000

KUBA Barkcloth 53 44.5" long x 16.5" wide $300

KUBA Barkcloth 55 44" long x 18.5" wide $300

KUBA Barkcloth 59 51" long x 19" wide $200

KUBA Barkcloth 60 45" long x 15.5" wide $200

KUBA Barkcloth 61 50" long x 18.5" wide $200

The Kuba barkcloth textiles below have been sold and are left here for educational and research purposes.

KUBA Barkcloth 48 43" long x 17" wide SOLD

KUBA Barkcloth 54 51" long x 18.5" wide SOLD

KUBA Barkcloth 64 58" long x 23" wide SOLD

KUBA Barkcloth 65 44" long x 23.5" wide SOLD

Photographs © Hamill Gallery

These special wraps were worn outside, or on top of, the long dance dresses for added decoration and prestige. The central area is barkcloth, made by beating a layer from just under the tree bark until it is thin and pliable. Numbers 52-65 are painted in typically Kuba geometric abstract patterns, similar to those on their barkcloth dance costumes. One end, usually, and the two sides are embellished with raffia borders, which can be quilted, embroidered, tufted, tie-dyed or tasseled.

CARE: The cloths are not fragile and can be pinned onto a wall or panel for display, or framed like a work on paper.

CONDITION REPORTS: Each individual page lists issues of holes, tears and bleeding.