A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art approximately 50 Kuba garments and ceremonial textiles provided the opportunity to study the materials and construction methods of each. These potential additions to the collections were assessed according to their ability to enhance and strengthen the existing group of Kuba textiles housed in the museum. One garment, said to be a 19th century Royal Bushoong overskirt, was puzzling. The particular combination of recycled pieces of raffia cloth, bark cloth and trade cloth embellished with glass beads and cowry shells was unusual. There was no question that this garment had clear Kuba attributes, but royal overskirts are rare. Descriptions and images of royal overskirts found in the literature on Kuba art and culture were very different from this garment. A comparison of overall format, pattern, materials, construction methods and the quality of craftsmanship between this overskirt and pieces similar to those described in the literature, suggested that this particular garment does not fit into the royal paradigm, however, the purpose for creating the garment remains elusive.