A Kingfisher Among Four Circling Fish Panama Mola

A Kingfisher Among Four Circling Fish Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. A deep plum kingfisher runs across the orange cloth with a fish in every corner, and a single jade line loops around all four to hold the whole scene in one frame. There is a little story playing out here, and you find yourself wondering which one gets caught first. This one fits a standard frame nicely at 16 inches wide and 10.5 inches high, and it would also make a lively pillow front. Hang it in a bathroom or by the pool door, anywhere water is already part of the mood.

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: 10.5"
SKU: PM2613T

MACHINE WASHABLE To clean, machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle tumble dry on low, do not bleach or iron