A Spotted Beast Prowling The Green Vines Kuna Mola

A Spotted Beast Prowling The Green Vines Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. A spotted four legged creature moves through the center, its body dotted with small crosses and framed by a sweeping vine. It feels a little wild and a little mysterious, like spotting something in the trees on a night walk. At 16.5 inches wide and 10 inches high it is a wide shape that suits a frame over a desk or a low cabinet. Your den or a jungle themed bedroom would be a great home for it.

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: 16.5"
Height: 10"
SKU: PM0382T