Textile Art Of The Bakuba

Textile Art of the Bakuba: Velvet Embroideries in Raffia

Author: Sam Hilu & Irwin Hersey

Coveted by museum curators and private collectors alike, here is an opportunity to view an unprecedented collection of striking raffia artwork, all in one volume. These velvety embroidered raffia cloths and ceremonial appliqué skirts were created deep in the heart of the Congo by the Kuba people. They are the collaborative work of male weavers and female embroiderers whose efforts and painstaking techniques have resulted in intricate, eye-dazzling abstract designs that rival pop art, executed with a palette of vegetal dyes that is universally appealing.

Each unique, these masterful works have inspired innumerable Western artists and designers including Paul Klee, Henry Matisse, Eduardo Chillida, Georges Braque, and Tristan Tzara. With more than 400 raffia cloths pictured, this book will inspire artists and graphic, fashion, and textile designers. Additionally, a value guide makes it an invaluable reference for collectors.

Sam Hilu adapts tribal arts to the popular market, working with top designers and retailers in addition to designing his own line of apparel under the Sam Hilu label.

Irwin Hersey is an internationally recognized authority on Tribal Arts and a renowned collector. He has been a consultant to a number of museums and private collectors, and he has written about tribal art for numerous publications.

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