A Turquoise Maze Blooming At The Center Panama Mola

This panel is pure pattern, a broad maze of turquoise, pink and orange bands that wind inward from all four sides toward a small square heart at the center. Little coiled spirals sit in the corners in green, yellow, blue and purple, each one its own pocket of colour in the long run of the design. The ground is a deep maroon that keeps the bright bands from shouting over one another. It is 18 inches wide and 15.5 inches high, a generous size for framing. Every band is cut and turned by hand in reverse applique.

Molas are traditionally hand stitched panels 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 the raw edges are turned and stitched closed. The technique is called reverse appliqué. On this panel the artisan worked with a sewing machine rather than closing every edge by hand, which keeps the lines crisp and makes it a sturdy, practical choice for a pillow cover or a sewing project.

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: 18"
Height: 15.5"
SKU: PM2655T

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