A Rainbow Backed Dog In A Golden Maze Kuna Mola

A Rainbow Backed Dog In A Golden Maze Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. A long eared dog fills the middle with upright stripes packed along its back, and the maze work around it is cut so close that hardly any background shows. Anyone who has shared a home with a loyal companion will feel an instant tug, and you may catch yourself talking to it. At 17 inches wide and 12 inches high it holds a wall on its own and frames up beautifully. A family room, a mudroom by the leash hook or a gift for a fellow pet owner would all work.

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: 17"
Height: 12"
SKU: PM0389T