Kuba Tray

Overview

The crisp and elegant geometric patterens defining these boxes and tray take their inspiration from woven and embroidered raffia cloths made by the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Kuba men gather the leaves of the raffia palm and work them until they separate into individual fibers soft enough to weave into square cloths. the women then embroider the cloth using dyed raffia fibers. the patterns created by the women that define the cloths represent the rhythms and patterns of the Kuba people's lives and environment.