Looking for a gift with a story behind it? This white toucan leaning forward was carved by hand in Panama from tagua, the seed of a rainforest palm. Its natural ivory tone lets every carved detail show. Give it a spot on a shelf, a windowsill or in a curio cabinet where it can be enjoyed up close.
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, then sand and polish it by hand. This one was left unpainted, so its color is the natural ivory of the tagua seed itself, which slowly warms toward amber gold over time. No two carvings are ever alike.
Founded in 1991, TraderBrock celebrates the handcraft of Latin America's indigenous peoples. We work with Guna, Wounaan and Emberá artisans we know by name, and all profits go back into their communities for education, tools and the teaching of ancestral techniques.
Material: Tagua nut (vegetable ivory)
Made in: Panama
Size: 1.5" x 1.5"
Care: Keep dry and dust with a soft cloth
SKU: TC0076T
Free U.S. shipping on orders over $100. Every piece is packed carefully and shipped from Apollo Beach, Florida.
You have 14 days from delivery to request a return. See our return policy for details.
For 35 years, TraderBrock has brought handmade artisan work from Panama, Haiti, and across Central America to collectors around the world. Every piece we carry begins in the hands of an artisan we know personally. Molas stitched in Guna homes, tagua carved by Wounaan hands, masks woven in the Darién, paintings brushed in Port-au-Prince studios. Our inventory runs over 14,000 pieces, curated from direct relationships that go back decades.
