Two Yellow Billed Jacamars Having Words Panama Mola

Two Yellow Billed Jacamars Having Words Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Two broad billed birds lean in toward a tall leafy stem topped with a star flower, both clearly with something to say about it. You can almost hear the squawking, and it is impossible to pick a side. It measures 16 inches wide and 13 inches high, a touch taller than most, which gives it good presence in a frame. Lively in a kitchen or a breakfast nook where the conversation runs loud.

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: 13"
SKU: PM2120T