Quality & Care
Every piece we sell was made by hand by indigenous artists in Panama and beyond, using natural materials: cotton cloth, palm fiber, tagua seed, and tropical hardwood. Many are colored with dyes made from plants. With a little care, your piece will look as good years from now as the day you opened the box.
Three simple rules
Skip the direct sun
Plant dyes and bright cotton fade in strong daily sunlight. Bright rooms are great; just keep pieces out of the sun’s direct path.
Keep it dry and steady
Normal home air is perfect. Avoid spots right next to AC vents, heaters, fireplaces, or steamy bathrooms.
Dust gently, no water
A soft dry brush or cloth is all you need. Skip sprays, polishes, and household cleaners.
Care by type of piece
Molas
Guna women build each mola from several layers of cotton cloth, cutting and hand-stitching them by hand. The colors are bright because the fabric is, so the main thing is to protect that color.
Cleaning
- For dust, use a soft brush, or a vacuum on low with a piece of window screen held over the mola.
- Spot clean small marks with cold water and a drop of mild soap, then blot dry.
- If a full wash is truly needed, hand wash it alone in cold water. Bright colors can bleed, especially on vintage molas.
- Never wring it. Roll it in a towel, then dry it flat in the shade.
- Press from the back on low heat, with a cloth between the iron and the mola.
Display and storage
- Framing is the classic choice. UV-protective glass and an acid-free mat keep the colors bright for decades.
- Don’t glue or staple a mola to a backing. Light hand stitches or a framer’s mounting are better.
- To store, lay it flat or roll it with acid-free tissue. Avoid sharp folds and plastic bags.
- Mola clothing, bags, and pillows: hand wash cold, by themselves, and dry flat.
Woven Baskets
Wounaan and Emberá weavers coil each basket from rainforest palm fiber and color it with dyes made from plants, roots, and bark. A large basket can take months to finish, so it deserves a gentle hand.
Cleaning
- Dust with a soft, dry paintbrush or makeup brush, following the direction of the weave.
- Never wash, soak, or wipe a basket with a wet cloth. Water can loosen the coils and move the dyes.
- If something spills, blot it right away with a dry cloth and let the basket air dry.
Handling
- Lift a basket from the bottom, never by the rim.
- Lids are fitted by hand, so set them on gently.
- Don’t stack heavy things on top of or inside a basket.
Display and use
- Baskets are made to be seen: on a shelf, a coffee table, or a wall (plates hang beautifully).
- Bowls and baskets can hold light, dry things like keys or letters. Keep them away from food, plants, and water.
- Give them a little air. In very humid homes, avoid closed cabinets, where moisture can build up.
- If a basket faces a window, turn it every few months so it ages evenly.
Woven Masks
Our woven masks use the same palm fibers and plant dyes as the baskets, shaped into animals and spirits of the rainforest. Their fringe, ears, and beaks are the most delicate parts.
Cleaning
- Dust with a soft, dry brush, working from the center outward and into the creases.
- No damp cloths: moisture can make the dyes run.
- Let fringe and feather-like fibers fall naturally. Don’t pull or trim them.
Display and storage
- Hang at eye level on a sturdy picture hook, on a wall that doesn’t get direct sun.
- One large mask looks great alone. Smaller masks look wonderful in a group of three or more, a few inches apart.
- To store, lay the mask face up with nothing on top of it, so the features keep their shape.
Tagua Carvings
Tagua is the hard seed of a rainforest palm, often called vegetable ivory. Artists carve each figure by hand and often paint it, so every one is different.
Cleaning
- Dust with a soft brush or a dry microfiber cloth.
- Keep tagua dry. It’s a natural seed, and soaking can make it swell or crack.
- To bring back the shine on unpainted areas, buff gently with a dry cloth.
Handling and display
- Pick a carving up by its body or base. Legs, tails, and antennae are thin and can snap.
- Painted carvings stay brightest on a shelf or in a cabinet away from the window.
- Small carvings look great grouped together, like a little rainforest on a shelf.
Cocobolo Wood Carvings
Cocobolo is a dense tropical hardwood with natural oils that give it its rich color and glow. Its color naturally deepens over the years.
Cleaning
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth.
- Once or twice a year, rub in a very light coat of paste wax or mineral oil with a soft cloth, then buff off the extra.
- Skip water, sprays, and household cleaners.
Display
- Keep carvings away from heaters and AC vents. Very dry air or quick temperature swings can crack wood.
- Pick up a carving by its base, not by thin parts like fins, beaks, or tails.
Paintings
Our paintings are original works by hand, full of bold color. A little care keeps that color strong.
Cleaning
- Dust lightly with a soft, dry brush.
- Never use water, glass cleaner, or any household cleaner on the paint.
Display
- Hang it on a wall out of direct sun, away from kitchens, bathrooms, and fireplaces.
- Hold an unframed canvas by its edges. Pressing on the front or back can leave dents.
- A frame adds protection, and UV-protective glass helps the colors last.
Jewelry
Our sterling silver pieces are made in Panama, and our tagua jewelry is carved from the same seed as the figures.
Sterling silver
- Silver darkens with time. A silver polishing cloth brings back the shine in seconds.
- Store each piece in a small sealed bag or a lined box to slow tarnish.
- Take it off before swimming, showering, or putting on lotion or perfume.
Tagua jewelry
- Keep it dry, and take it off before washing your hands, showering, or swimming.
- Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth after wearing.
- Store it away from sunlight so the colors stay bright.
Our promise on quality
We have worked directly with indigenous artisan communities since 1991, and every purchase supports the artists who make these pieces. We pack and ship every order ourselves from Apollo Beach, Florida, with care to make sure it arrives safely.
Because everything is made by hand, small differences in stitching, weave, or carving are part of each piece’s character. They show the hands that made it.
If something arrives damaged or isn’t what you expected, our 14-day returns have you covered. Questions about caring for a piece? Just ask. We’re happy to help.