Eight textiles "bilaam"
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Lot: 317
91 Tribal Art AuctionEight textiles "bilaam"
D. R. Congo, Kuba-Shoowa / Bushoong
| Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| Roger de Vloo, Belgian missionary (collected in situ) | M: 9.8 inch x 22.8 inch - 14.8 inch x 25.2 inch | This object is not available anymore. |
fibres of the raffia palm "raphia vinifera", with embroidery and velvet ("Kasai plush"), alternating graphic ornaments, various sizes
The size of a cloth (sing. "mbal", pl. "bilaam") was given by the natural length of the raffia fibres. In former times they were used as medium of exchange on the local markets. For the voluminous loinclothes many "bilaam" were sewn together.
