Decortype › Textiles & Embroidery › Regional Weaves & Cloth

Kongo textiles

Africa tradition · 5 examples · indicative market tier: Under $500 (entry level & living craft)

In the Kongo Kingdom and its vassals (Loango, Kakongo, Ngoyo), the woven arts were emblematic of kingship and nobility. The coarse filament stripped from the fronds of the raffia palm tree served as the foundation of the Kongo weaving arts. This material imposed constraints that were overcome to produce varied and ingenious textile formats and structures. Wikipedia →

Types & examples

Kongo Basket
Kongo Basket
Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Kongo Cushion Cover
Kongo Cushion Cover
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)
Kongo Cushion Cover 1
Kongo Cushion Cover 1
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)
British Museum Room 25 Nkisi Dog Kongo people 19th century 17022019 4975
British Museum Room 25 Nkisi Dog Kongo people 19th century 17022019 4975
Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Selling Fiber Textiles, Angola, 1650s
Selling Fiber Textiles, Angola, 1650s
Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Where to buy

1stDibsHigh-end antiques & design marketplaceBrowse listings → LiveAuctioneersAggregated live auctions worldwideBrowse listings → InvaluableAuction-house listings & price archiveBrowse listings → Christie'sMajor-auction results & upcoming salesBrowse listings → EtsyLiving artisans & vintage dealersBrowse listings → eBayBroad secondary market — vet sellers carefullyBrowse listings →

Each link opens a live, image-rich search for this craft on that marketplace. Listings rotate constantly; authenticate significant pieces independently — attribution quality varies widely outside museum collections.