Open Book, Two Doves And A Quiet Congregation Panama Mola

Open Book, Two Doves And A Quiet Congregation Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. The lettering is the remarkable part, lines of Spanish naming the Savior and a verse from Philippians, each letter cut out of the layers and stitched down one at a time. It carries the hush of a church just before the service begins. The panel is 18 inches wide and 14 inches high, one of the larger pieces in the collection and big enough to hold its own on a wall. Give it a place in a prayer corner, a study or a church office where you want a reminder of faith.

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: 14"
SKU: PM3672T