Twin Storm Lanterns With Burning Wicks Panama Mola

Twin Storm Lanterns With Burning Wicks Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Two kerosene storm lanterns stand side by side with stepped bases and a bold X set into the glass, and five smaller lanterns drift around the edges like sparks. There is a cozy glow to it, like a porch light left on for someone coming home late. At 18 inches wide and 13 inches high, it has the presence to stand alone as a framed piece. Try it in a den or a reading corner, where your evening lamp can pick up the flames.

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: 18"
Height: 13"
SKU: 22051554T