Twin Four Leaf Medallions On Burgundy Mola

Two matched panels sit side by side on burgundy cloth, each holding four pointed leaves that cross at an octagonal center like the arms of a kite. The leaves are outlined in blue and orange with lime and pink veins stitched down the middle, and pale rose maze lines unwind from every corner. Below, long looping bands in rose and red fill the lower half. At 16 inches wide and 13 inches high, it frames up cleanly.

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: 16"
Height: 13"
SKU: 22031089T