KUBA WOMANS DANCE SKIRT DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO raffia and textile, a red fabric border frames a white and navy patchwork with additional overlaid yellow dyed elements (410cm x 57cm) Footnote: Provenance: The Keir McGuinness Collection of African Textiles Note: "Decorated dance skirts of all types were primarily worn by higher-status individuals at various Kuba court ceremonial events (most of which have rarely been held in recent years), and at still-important funeral rites. A clan would honour the death of a high-ranking member with an elaborate display of raffia textiles and costume items adorning the corpse and the funerary display space, as well as the accompanying dancers." Clarke, D. 2015. African Textiles, London: Prestel Publishing. p. 232