Presented in this lot are Two (2) Kuba Shoowa Cut-Pile Baskets, circa mid-1900s. Visually dynamic and highly textured, these raffia baskets express the geometric patterns typical of Kuba textile art. Kuba actually refers to the region of the D.R. Congo, formerly Zaire, where the raffia cloth stems from, and Shoowa is a tribal group who lives in this region and makes a specific style of cloth. The Shoowa are known for their cut-pile "velvet" and embroidery cloth using raffia palm. It’s the palm fiber that is used for making the raffia fabric, a process which involves both men and women. Women do the planting. Men strip the leaves of the plants which are then dried in the sun. Next, the men beat the fiber and further strip it into sections. Then they lightly spin it by rolling it across their thighs into a thread ready for weaving. But once the fabric comes off the loom, the women take over. This form of woven textile is made by embroidering a panel of cloth with dyed raffia thread, which is then trimmed short to create a plush "velvet" texture. Provenance: the Owen D. Mort, Jr. Collection. Owen David Mort was an American engineer who amassed an impressive collection throughout his worldwide travels. His collection has included art, artifacts and other historical items from which he has donated to museums at the University of Utah and Snite Museum of Art, the University of Notre Dame, including of African and Afghan artifacts. Both baskets are dyed in raffia thread design colours of black, orange and cream, each has a braided raffia carrying cord and a hidden lid which is recessed into the basket. The smaller round basket is 6" diameter x 3.5"H; the truncated cone-shaped one is 7.5" diameter x 4"H. Combined weight is 14 oz.