A Black Petaled Jungle Orchid On Red Panama Mola

A single orchid opens across the middle of this panel, its petals cut as long pointed leaves in black cloth with the veins picked out in lemon, jade, rose and violet thread, and each petal rimmed in a colour of its own so no two neighbours match. At the heart is a scalloped black centre edged in gold, holding five small drops in amber, rose, teal, cobalt and scarlet like seeds waiting to fall. The ground is a strong tomato red and a navy and white maze runs around the outside with squared hooks at every corner. It is 13.5 inches wide and 11 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: 13.5"
Height: 11"
SKU: PM1631T

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