Ensemble

Unknown

late 19th century · Cotton, shells, leather · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Raffia fiber, harvested from the palm leaf, is used in almost all Kuba textiles and is a powerful emblem of security and continuity, symbolizing the bond of the living to each other as well as to the deceased. The intricately pieced checkerboard pattern and large size of this skirt reveal the prominent social status of the wearer.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 19th century

Medium

Cotton, shells, leather

Culture

Kuba peoples

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Purchase, Janet A. Sloane Gift Fund, 1994