Two Odd Jungle Critters In Spiral Cages Panama Mola

Two Odd Jungle Critters In Spiral Cages Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. The two stout critters stand nose to nose, each boxed in a six sided cage packed with fat spiral scrolls, with a row of dark ribs down every side. They are strange enough to make you laugh and charming enough to make you fond of them. This large panel is 19 inches wide and 14.5 inches high, big enough to frame as a centerpiece or to cover a full sized pillow. It brings humor to a family room, a playroom or a creative office.

Molas are built by stacking several layers of colored cotton, then cutting down through one layer at a time so the colors underneath show through, and turning every raw edge under and stitching it closed by hand. The technique is called reverse appliqué, and a good panel is judged by how fine the stitches are and how many layers deep the cutting goes. This one came from Guna Yala, the San Blas islands off Panama's Caribbean coast, where the designs draw on the birds, fish, plants and geometric patterns of the islands and rainforest. It is ready to frame, mount, or sew into a pillow or a quilt panel, and no two are ever alike.

Founded in 1991, TraderBrock celebrates the handcraft of Latin America's indigenous peoples. Every piece comes from Guna, Wounaan and Emberá artisans we know by name, and all profits are reinvested in their communities for education, tools and the teaching of ancestral techniques. Buying from TraderBrock helps keep their culture and their traditions alive.

Width: 19"
Height: 14.5"
SKU: PM2520T