Two Parrots Among Leaves Over Maze Panels Panama Mola

Two Parrots Among Leaves Over Maze Panels Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Two parrots perch among leaves across the top half while the bottom half is given over entirely to zigzag maze blocks, a split many Guna makers use to pair a living scene with pure pattern. It feels like stepping into a jungle clearing, loud and lush and full of life. At 19 inches wide and 13 inches high, it is one of the wider panels and makes a real statement in a frame. Put it over your sofa or a sideboard where you want a big burst of the tropics.

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: 13"
SKU: 22051340T