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Under The Yellow Arch, One Burgundy Trogon Panama Mola

A single burgundy bird stands under a tall pale yellow arch on this panel, his tail opening into stacked bands of yellow, orange and blue and his feet planted on a heavy blue bar like a perch. Two leafy sprigs lean in from the top corners, one pair outlined in yellow and orange, the other in blue and rose, each leaf veined with fine stitching. The black ground behind is combed with short colored strokes that fall like rain on either side of the arch. It is 14 inches wide and 11 inches high. Every shape is cut and turned by hand in reverse applique.

A mola is a hand stitched panel made by the Guna people of Panama, once known as the Kuna. Several layers of colored cotton are stacked, then cut down through one layer at a time so the colors underneath show through, and every raw edge is turned and stitched closed by hand. The technique is called reverse appliqué. Guna women have been refining it for generations, and the designs draw on the birds, fish, plants and geometric patterns of the islands and rainforest where they live.

TraderBrock has bought directly from Guna, Embera, Wounaan and Ngäbe artisans since 1991, and sales revenue goes back into those communities for education, medical care, tools and land. This panel came from Guna Yala, the San Blas islands off Panama's Caribbean coast. It is ready to frame, mount, or sew into a pillow or a quilt panel, and it can be hand washed. No two molas are ever alike, and small variations in size, stitching and color are normal in handmade textiles.

Width: 14"
Height: 11"
SKU: PM3300T