Colonial Era Lace Panel
Kasai, D R. Congo
Circa 1930-1950s
Raffia, aniline dye?; needle lace technique
18½x 29 ins (46.25 x 72.5 cm)
An exquisite panel of Congolese lace with a mandala-like design composed of spinning floral and starlike roundels and other circular elements that supply multiple points of focus in a kinetic openwork field. The bright bleached white raffia thread used to outline the petals of the motif enhances the impression of layering and transparency.
The delicacy and precision of the work reflects the needle-working skills of embroiderers in the Kasai region, especially Shoowa and Bushong women, whose artistry and textile knowledge were put to use in the mission schools and craft workshops established by Belgian Catholic nuns and colonial educators in the early decades of the 20th century. These were channeled into the production of goods made to colonial taste; here the model is evidently traditional European crocheted and lace textiles, such as doilies, table runners and altar cloths. The primary medium, however, is raffia, which is the elemental fiber of all Central African prestige art.
$3000
