Name: Poison Dart Frog Tagua Carving
Brand: TraderBrock
SKU: TC758T
Price: 32.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$ 32.99

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Handmade in Panama

Fair Trade

Hand carved from sustainably harvested tagua nut, often called “vegetable ivory”, this charming Poison Dart Frog Tagua Carving celebrates the rich biodiversity of the Latin American rainforest. Each small sculpture is created by skilled artisans in Panama who carefully shape and polish the natural nut before bringing the animal to life with detailed hand painting. Every piece is made by our artisan partners for TraderBrock, helping support traditional craft and fair, long term relationships with local makers.

The carvings draw on the artistry of Embera Wounaan indigenous communities, who are known for their finely detailed rainforest animal figures and deep connection to the jungle environment that inspires them. Each design reflects both the beauty of the animal and the carver’s individual style, making every piece a meaningful accent for your home decor or a thoughtful gift for nature and wildlife lovers.

Hand carved tagua nut “vegetable ivory” from the rainforest
Made in Panama by Embera Wounaan artisans exclusively for TraderBrock
Detailed, hand painted finish, each carving is one of a kind
Eco friendly, cruelty free alternative to ivory, thoughtful gift or collectible decor
SKU: TC758T

Dust with a soft, dry cloth. For deeper cleaning, wipe gently with a slightly damp cloth and dry right away. Do not soak or submerge in water.

Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat vents or humid areas. Sudden changes in temperature or moisture can cause the tagua to crack or the paint to fade over time.

Display on a stable surface and handle with clean, dry hands. With reasonable care, a tagua carving will last generations.

CREATING A TAGUA CARVING

Tagua is the seed of the tagua palm, a tree native to the rainforests of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. The nuts fall naturally to the forest floor and are gathered without harming the tree. Once dried for several months, the ivory-white seed is hard enough to carve. Wounaan artisans shape each piece by hand using simple tools, then dye the surface with natural pigments and finish with a hand-polished shine. Every carving begins with a nut the size of your palm and ends as something no machine could make twice.

THE PROCESS

The Tagua Nut

The seed of the tagua palm, sometimes called "vegetable ivory." Ivory-white inside, hard as bone when dried. No two nuts are the same shape.

Natural Harvest

Tagua palms drop their nuts naturally. Artisans gather them from the rainforest floor. No tree is cut, no wildlife disturbed.

Months of Drying

Fresh tagua is soft and milky. Nuts are set out to dry for four to eight months until they harden into a material dense enough to carve.

Hand Carving

Wounaan artisans carve each piece with small chisels and knives. A single carving can take days, following the natural shape of the nut.

Hand-Painted Detail

Each piece is hand-painted with artist-grade India inks. Highly pigmented, lightfast, and waterproof when dry. Applied with dip pens and fine brushes to bring out every feature of the carving.

Finish & Seal

Once the ink dries, each piece is hand-polished and sealed. The finish locks in the color, protects the carving, and gives every figure a smooth, lasting shine.

Cultural Meaning

Tagua carving is one of the oldest living crafts in the rainforests of Central and South America. Wounaan artisans carve the animals that share their forest home. Monkeys, frogs, parrots, jaguars. Each piece is a quiet record of the species, landscapes, and stories that shaped their culture. Choosing tagua over ivory helps save elephants. Choosing handmade over machine-made helps keep this craft alive.

Poison Dart Frog Tagua Carving

CREATING A TAGUA CARVING