Autumn Leaves Held In An Orange Maze Panama Mola

Four burgundy leaves rest inside two mirrored panels of orange maze work on a black ground, and each leaf is given its own edging, one in lime, one in gold, one in white and one in a bright turquoise. The veins are embroidered in contrast thread, orange on one leaf and pale blue on the next, so that no two read the same from across a room. Small bunches of green and purple dashes fill the empty corners like falling seed. It is 15 inches wide and 10.5 inches high. Every line is cut and turned by hand in the reverse appliqué the Guna are known for.

A mola is a hand stitched panel made by the Guna people of Panama, once known as the Kuna. Several layers of colored cotton are stacked, then cut down through one layer at a time so the colors underneath show through, and every raw edge is turned and stitched closed by hand. The technique is called reverse appliqué. Guna women have been refining it for generations, and the designs draw on the birds, fish, plants and geometric patterns of the islands and rainforest where they live.

TraderBrock has bought directly from Guna, Embera, Wounaan and Ngäbe artisans since 1991, and sales revenue goes back into those communities for education, medical care, tools and land. This panel came from Guna Yala, the San Blas islands off Panama's Caribbean coast. It is ready to frame, mount, or sew into a pillow or a quilt panel, and it can be hand washed. No two molas are ever alike, and small variations in size, stitching and color are normal in handmade textiles.

Width: 15"
Height: 10.5"
SKU: PM2343T

MACHINE WASHABLE To clean, machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle tumble dry on low, do not bleach or iron