Four Fish And Leaves Under A Red Bloom Panama Mola

Four Fish And Leaves Under A Red Bloom Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. A branching stem runs right across the panel and carries four fish out to the corners alongside long veined leaves, so the fish seem to grow on it like fruit. It has the soothing pull of an aquarium after a stressful day. It is 16 inches wide and 11.5 inches high, a comfortable size for a frame or a pillow. Put it in a bathroom, a bedroom or anywhere you go to unwind.

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"
Height: 11.5"
SKU: 22051374T