Plumed Crest Bird Among Leaves And Flowers Panama Mola

Plumed Crest Bird Among Leaves And Flowers Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. A long necked jungle bird with a curling plume crest stands at the center, its body filled with narrow bars of color, and the tiny confetti chips in the gaps show how carefully the maker filled every corner. It feels lush and grand, like a window into a rainforest morning. At 19.5 inches wide and 14 inches high, it is large enough to be the main event on a wall. Hang it above your sofa, a bed or a fireplace mantel.

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: 19.5"
Height: 14"
SKU: 22051811T