Curly Dog Face Drawn In Bold Loops Panama Mola

Curly Dog Face Drawn In Bold Loops Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Big looping shapes in pink, green and yellow outline a dog face, with striped ears and cheeks filled in white, orange, blue and yellow over a black ground. Step back and the face appears, step closer and it turns into pure pattern again. It measures 16.5 inches wide and 12 inches high, a good fit for a medium frame over a desk. It makes a fun gift for a dog lover, or a bright spot above your own dog's bed.

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: 16.5"
Height: 12"
SKU: 21092606E