Beak To Beak The Hummingbirds Say Nothing Panama Mola

Beak To Beak The Hummingbirds Say Nothing Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Two hummingbirds meet beak to beak beneath a single hanging leaf, their wings stacked in chevrons and their tails worked differently on each side, so they mirror without quite matching. It has the sweetness of a first kiss, and couples especially seem drawn to it. It is 15 inches wide and 11 inches high, a lovely size for a bedroom frame or an anniversary gift. Hang it above a nightstand or in a sitting room you share with someone special.

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: 15"
Height: 11"
SKU: PM3515T

Each mola is stitched entirely by hand, so gentle care keeps it looking its best.

Hand wash in cold water with a mild soap, on its own. Do not wring, bleach, or tumble dry. Lay flat to dry, out of direct sun. If needed, press on the back with a warm iron, with a cloth between the iron and the mola.