Some carvings are worth holding on to, like this brown poison dart frog, a vintage piece hand carved from tagua nut in Panama. The frog wears a deep reddish brown tone that stands out against the creamy white base and dark rim. It makes a thoughtful gift for frog lovers 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: This frog was dyed a rich brown after it was carved, and then the carver cut the base back to white so the frog stands out. It was a common look back in the 1990s.
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 dyed after it was carved, which gives it a deeper color. 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: 1.5" x 1.5"
Care: Keep dry and dust with a soft cloth
SKU: TC0192T
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.
