Textile Storage Box

Accession Number
1983/2.169

Title
Textile Storage Box

Artist(s)
Kuba

Artist Nationality
Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo style)

Object Creation Date
19th century

Medium & Support
wood and rattan fiber

Dimensions
22 3/8 in x 8 11/16 in x 6 9/16 in (56.9 cm x 22 cm x 16.7 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Senator Jack Faxon

Subject matter
Kuba boxes served several purposes. Ornately decorated boxes were created as a form of competition among titled court members. Also, they were often used to hold objects such as razors for cutting raffia, personal care objects such as hairpins in addition to various ritual objects and medicinal substance.

This box could have potentially been used to store Kuba textiles. In the 19th century, decorated raffia cloth was used as a marker of prestige, as currency, to pay tribute, settle legal disputes, and in public displays such as the funerals of high-ranking titleholders. Additionally, they were often used as initiation objects during ceremonial rites of passage. The geometric patterns on the lid of this box resemble patterns found on Kuba basketry, woodwork, sculpture, and female body scarifications.

References:
Monni Adams, Kuba Embroidered Cloth, African Arts, 1978
Daniel Biebuyck, The Arts of Zaire, 1985
Georges Meurant, African Textiles from the Kingdom of Kuba, 1986
Roy Sieber, African Textiles and Decorative Arts, 1972

Physical Description
Rectangular box made of fiber and wood with wooden lid. Intersecting lines that form diamond patterns are carved into the top of the lid. 

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
box

Collection Area
African

Rights
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Objects We Use
Vessels
prestige
storage containers
textile components

& Author Notes

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