Posted by Jim Allen on 10-13-2007 02:02 PM:

Kuba Soumacs

I was pleased to see a picture of John’s Kuba bag face in his presentation. I have a picture of another example and I thought the group might like to see them together. There are approximately 4 rugs known with this design and two of them are dated; one 1815 and the other 1833. Three of these are long rugs with three medallions and one of them is a single medallion example. I have never examined either one of the soumac weavings so I can’t add anything to the discussion about their possible ages.





Jim

Posted by R. John Howe on 10-14-2007 08:13 AM:

Jim -

Thanks for this additional example and comment.

The piece from Wertime's book was, as I indicated above, in the room in his session, and face to face with it it projects a sophistication, especially in the drawing of its central medallion, that, for me, sets it apart.

Wendel Swan will have handled this piece repeatedly and might be able to speak more specifically to its handle and other characteristics that suggest a Kuba attribution.

Regards,

R. John Howe

Posted by Unregistered on 10-16-2007 04:37 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by R. John Howe
Jim -

Thanks for this additional example and comment.

The piece from Wertime's book was, as I indicated above, in the room in his session, and face to face with it it projects a sophistication, especially in the drawing of its central medallion, that, for me, sets it apart.

Wendel Swan will have handled this piece repeatedly and might be able to speak more specifically to its handle and other characteristics that suggest a Kuba attribution.

Regards,

R. John Howe



As an English Professor, that sentence pains me.

Posted by Steve Price on 10-16-2007 05:36 PM:

Hi Professor

Would you be good enough to send me your name by e-mail, so I can insert it into your post? Also, in the user name field, please overwrite the word "unregistered" with your name when you post.

Thanks.

Steve Price

Posted by R. John Howe on 10-16-2007 06:37 PM:

Dear anonymous -

Actually, there are three sentences.

Please indicate which troubles you most.

American English is, as Sam Ervin once famously said, is my "mother tongue," but I do tend toward vernacular usages, and to the informal.

Always glad to be corrected or improved, but that would require favorable examples.



Regards,

R. John Howe

Posted by Patrick Weiler on 10-18-2007 09:52 PM:

Howe, John

John,

I think, our Professor pal, from England, apparently, is nonplussed, by the pervasive profusion of punctuation, of, that is, the commas, in one of the three, (3), sentences, from your post.

Helpfully, yours, truly,

Weiler, Patrick

Jim, you said there were several rugs with this design. Are any of them published that you know of?

Posted by Jim Allen on 10-19-2007 11:37 AM:

More Kuba examples

Patrick I have pictures of two examples that have passed through the public domain to share with you. The yellow field example was sold through Sotheby's and is dated 1833. I believe the undated example is the older of the two as its medallions are more geometrically complex and in harmony with 18th century design tradition. Jim Allen