Two Birds Sharing One Bright Branch Kuna Mola

Two Birds Sharing One Bright Branch Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Two big beaked condors stand side by side, each perched on its own branch of green or deep red, their bodies filled with rainbow stripes in orange outlines. They carry a proud, regal air that makes the whole room feel a little grander. It is 16 inches wide and 10 inches high, a wide, low format that suits the space over a bench or a bookcase. Put it where you want a strong focal point, like a study or above a dining sideboard.

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"
Height: 10"
SKU: PM0380T