Hip skirt, Zaire, Cuba. Raffia fabric, dyed red,... Lot 11

Hip skirt, Zaire, Cuba. Raffia fabric, dyed red, provided with appliqués, these embroidered with black dyed raffia thread. Partially faded over large areas, scattered smaller worn spots, partly repaired. L. 467 cm, w. 75 cm. The textile is a typical work of the Kuba ethnic group in central Zaire. The garment is worn as a wraparound skirt over longer ceremonial skirts on special occasions such as funerals. It is also used to cover the corpse, and there is also evidence of its use as a burial garment. Provenance: Peer Hultberg Collection (1935-2007), Hamburg. Kuba raffia wrap skirt, decorated with applications, colored in red. Collection Peer Hultberg (1935-2007), Hamburg. 467 x 75 cm.