Two Curved Beak Birds Facing Away Kuna Mola

Two Curved Beak Birds Facing Away Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Two curved beak birds sit back to back and look off in opposite directions, their wings striped in pink, orange, blue and black. It has the feel of a friendly disagreement, and you might find yourself picking a side. It is 16 inches wide and 10 inches high, a long, low shape that suits the space above a bench or a narrow table. Hang it in an entryway or over a desk you share with someone.

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: PM0375T