KUBA STYLE SKIRTS on RED (8000 Series), DRC

Kuba skirts, Tcaka, long are cloths made from raffia, from 8 - 25 feet long, from the Ngeende, Bushoong and Ngongo peoples. They incorporate appliqued "patches", embroidered shapes and patterns, openwork, tie-dye, cowrie shells, barkcloth and border elements. The appliqued "patches" originally repaired holes, then developed into traditional design motifs. .Most are covered with geometric symbols; many are restrained, subtle and rhythmic designs using one technique; others create amazing quilt-like assemblages of old pieces of many forms. The full skirts, worn by men and women, are bunched up and wrapped around many times.

THE COLOR ON THE RED SKIRTS IS NOT STABLE. MOST OF THESE HAVE LOST SOME OF THE DEEP DARK RED THAT THEY HAD ORIGINALLY. EXPOSURE TO LIGHT WILL FADE THEM GRADUALLY MORE UNTIL THEY ARE ALMOST GRAY. I HAVE LIGHTENED AND DESATURATED THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO BE AS ACCURATE AS I CAN BE TO THEIR PRESENT STATE. NOTE THAT THE COLOR IS OFTEN UNEVEN AND SOMEWHAT FADED AND OCCASIONALLY DIRTY. REMEMBER THAT MUSEUMS EXPOSE THEIR TEXTILES ONLY RARELY AND UNDER SUBDUED LIGHT.

CARE: The cloth is not fragile and can be pinned onto a wall or panel for display. To eliminate wrinkles, the cloth can be misted with water, and then gently ironed on the back.