Vintage natural white dyed turtle and egg tagua carving, hand carved in Panama
Panama tagua carving, a turtle climbing out of its egg with its head raised high, dyed after it was carved
Hand carved turtle in tagua, the vegetable ivory palm seed, emerging from an open egg shape of the seed
Vintage natural white dyed turtle and egg tagua carving, hand carved in Panama
Panama tagua carving, a turtle climbing out of its egg with its head raised high, dyed after it was carved
Hand carved turtle in tagua, the vegetable ivory palm seed, emerging from an open egg shape of the seed
Vintage natural white dyed turtle and egg tagua carving, hand carved in Panama
Panama tagua carving, a turtle climbing out of its egg with its head raised high, dyed after it was carved
Hand carved turtle in tagua, the vegetable ivory palm seed, emerging from an open egg shape of the seed
Vintage natural white dyed turtle and egg tagua carving, hand carved in Panama
Panama tagua carving, a turtle climbing out of its egg with its head raised high, dyed after it was carved
Hand carved turtle in tagua, the vegetable ivory palm seed, emerging from an open egg shape of the seed
Vintage natural white dyed turtle and egg tagua carving, hand carved in Panama
Panama tagua carving, a turtle climbing out of its egg with its head raised high, dyed after it was carved
Hand carved turtle in tagua, the vegetable ivory palm seed, emerging from an open egg shape of the seed
Vintage natural white dyed turtle and egg tagua carving, hand carved in Panama
Panama tagua carving, a turtle climbing out of its egg with its head raised high, dyed after it was carved
Hand carved turtle in tagua, the vegetable ivory palm seed, emerging from an open egg shape of the seed

Vintage Natural White Dyed Turtle and Egg Tagua Carving

TC2230T

$36.00
/
Shipping calculated at checkout.
  • Handmade in Panama
  • Fair Trade

Some carvings are worth holding on to, like this natural white dyed turtle and egg, a vintage piece hand carved from tagua nut in Panama. The golden amber turtle climbs out of its egg, with carved shell lines across its back. It makes a thoughtful gift for reptile fans and collectors of handmade art. Give it a spot on a shelf, a windowsill or in a curio cabinet where it can be enjoyed up close.

From Jan at MolaMagic: Here is a project carving for you. It came straight from the carver's hands, so get out a small rotary tool and see what luster you can bring out. When I visit the carvers, they offer me just about everything they have.

Tagua is the seed of a palm that grows in the rainforests of Central and South America. Once dried, the inside turns hard, smooth and creamy white, much like ivory, which is why it is called vegetable ivory. The seeds are gathered after they fall to the forest floor, so no tree or animal is harmed. Indigenous carvers in Panama's rainforest, most of them Wounaan and Emberá, shape each one with hand tools. This one was dyed after it was carved and left with a soft, matte surface, just as it came from the carver. No two carvings are ever alike.

MolaMagic was founded by Janet Marie Brockman with a simple but powerful mission: to help indigenous artisans in Panama share their art with the world. For over twenty years, all profits have gone right back into the artisan community, supporting education, medical care, land, tools, and daily needs. Buying a MolaMagic carving means you are part of that story too.

Material: Tagua nut (vegetable ivory)
Made in: Panama
Size: Palm sized; most tagua carvings measure about 1.5 to 2 inches
Care: Keep dry and dust with a soft cloth
SKU: TC2230T

Dust with a soft, dry cloth. For deeper cleaning, wipe gently with a slightly damp cloth and dry right away. Do not soak or submerge in water.

Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat vents or humid areas. Sudden changes in temperature or moisture can cause the tagua to crack or the paint to fade over time.

Display on a stable surface and handle with clean, dry hands. With reasonable care, a tagua carving will last generations.

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CREATING A TAGUA CARVING

Tagua is the seed of the tagua palm, a tree native to the rainforests of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador. The nuts fall naturally to the forest floor and are gathered without harming the tree. Once dried for several months, the ivory-white seed is hard enough to carve. Wounaan artisans shape each piece by hand using simple tools, then dye the surface with natural pigments and finish with a hand-polished shine. Every carving begins with a nut the size of your palm and ends as something no machine could make twice.

THE PROCESS

The Tagua Nut

The seed of the tagua palm, sometimes called "vegetable ivory." Ivory-white inside, hard as bone when dried. No two nuts are the same shape.

Natural Harvest

Tagua palms drop their nuts naturally. Artisans gather them from the rainforest floor. No tree is cut, no wildlife disturbed.

Months of Drying

Fresh tagua is soft and milky. Nuts are set out to dry for four to eight months until they harden into a material dense enough to carve.

Hand Carving

Wounaan artisans carve each piece with small chisels and knives. A single carving can take days, following the natural shape of the nut.

Hand-Painted Detail

Each piece is hand-painted with artist-grade India inks. Highly pigmented, lightfast, and waterproof when dry. Applied with dip pens and fine brushes to bring out every feature of the carving.

Finish & Seal

Once the ink dries, each piece is hand-polished and sealed. The finish locks in the color, protects the carving, and gives every figure a smooth, lasting shine.

Cultural Meaning

Tagua carving is one of the oldest living crafts in the rainforests of Central and South America. Wounaan artisans carve the animals that share their forest home. Monkeys, frogs, parrots, jaguars. Each piece is a quiet record of the species, landscapes, and stories that shaped their culture. Choosing tagua over ivory helps save elephants. Choosing handmade over machine-made helps keep this craft alive.

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