The Parrot Who Claimed The Branch Kuna Mola

The Parrot Who Claimed The Branch Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. A parrot built from blocks of green, purple and gold sits square in the middle with its feet closed around a branch, while wide blossoms open on either side. It has the confidence of someone who got there first and knows it. The panel is 18 inches wide and 13 inches high, a big piece that can take the center of a living room wall. Hang it where you want a little swagger, in a sunroom, a bar, or above a sofa.

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: 18"
Height: 13"
SKU: PM0455T