Mid-sized masks take around 5 days each to weave. She weaves her masks out of shredded palm in the traditional manner, using bundles of palm to create a 3-D structure. Then coming in from the outside she weaves the colored palm strands around the outside of the cheeks, face, eyes and finally neck, to create a face for the animal.Fuzzy looking parts are created by weaving thick colored palms once through from front to back, leaving the strands long and wide. Once enough strands have been pulled through and cut off at long lengths from the outside the weaver will ‘shred’ the thick strands using a needle. Finally, the long fuzzy parts are trimmed from the outside to create an even length all around the mask head.
14″ W x 15″ H, created by Embera weaver Felicinda Guaynora.
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Woven shaman masks are created by the Emberá people of Panamá. They share similar cultural traditions and weaving artistry as their neighboring Wounaan tribe. Emberá shamans (called jaibaná) use figures and visages to be used in their healing and cleansing ceremonies. The masks and animal images are assembled around the hut where a curing ritual takes place.
The newest, softest green palm fronds are shredded by hand, extracting the internal fibers as thin as thread. After drying in the sun, these fibers are dyed in mixtures created using roots, berries and seed pods, all-naturally sourced vegetal colors.
Stitched over many months and years from natural palm fibers and organic dyes, your handmade woven art should be displayed proudly, away from any windows and skylights. The ultra-violet rays of direct sun and strong light can cause the saturated natural dyes in textile and fiber art to fade, and can even damage the fibers themselves.
If your woven art resides with you in the desert or other dry environments, you may feel better occasionally misting it (as often done to wicker or rattan) inside with distilled or non-chlorinated tap water. Using a paper towel, gently pat any excess moisture from the interior.
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