Prestige Cloth
Shoowa people (part of the Kuba kingdom)
Kasai region, D.R. Congo
Circa 1950 or earlier
Cut pile technique, rapphia, natural dyes
23 1/2 x 26 3/4 inches  ( 59.5 x 68 cm)

From a Belgian colonial period collection, this is a very unusual "shoowa textile" as it is an old example using dyed colors and being fully created with cut pile and no embroidery. 
The design creates strong optical illusions.