Outlined Midnight Floral, Wounaan Basket

$200

In stock

A tiny delightful piece from master weaver showing skillful stitches and motif. Brisaidita clusters her detailed florals together with magnificent shapes. Some of the most beautiful and colorful hummingbirds fly in-between the flowers.

3″ W x 4″ H, constructed by Wounaan master weaver Briceida Mejia.

Free US shipping on all orders.

In Wounmeu, the language of the Wounaan, there is a special name for fine traditional coil-construction palm-fiber baskets — hösig di. Expert weavers stitch silk-fine strands of the black palm they call chunga, brilliantly or subtly colored with vegetal and organic dyes, over coils of naguala palm.

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.

Chunga is so closely linked to Wounaan tradition and daily life that, when it comes to the creation of Hösig Di (the Wounmeu term for their fine baskets), each basket is believed to begin with an inherent spiritual quality. Further to this point, the women who weave them are often called “spirit weavers”. Learn more about how Rainforest Baskets art is created.

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.

We offer free shipping within the continental United States.

  • For addresses in the US, tracked postage takes 2-7 business days.
  • International shipping is available to all destinations. You can either 1) complete your purchase online and we will send you a list of shipping options and prices. Once the shipping is paid we will send the objects and tracking information. Or 2) send an inquiry through email or product page and we will send your approximate shipping options based on your delivery address.
  • Rainforest Baskets is not responsible for customs duties or taxes on international shipments, nor is it responsible for delays associated with the import process.

  • We will be happy to offer a full refund (excluding shipping) on items returned within 7 days of receipt of delivery.
  • Returned items must be in original condition and undamaged, and purchased directly from RainforestBaskets.com.
  • Proof of purchase is required.
  • For defective, damaged or incorrect items, please notify us within five days of delivery in order to receive a refund/exchange.
  • Email us at info@rainforestbaskets.com to organise the return.

 

In stock

SKU: SPM-3198 Categories: , ,

Description

Pictorial motif Rainforest Baskets are called natura due to the fact that they are inspired by their natural surroundings. In fact, these designs often include local flowers, trees, birds, ocelots, jaguars, iguanas and other flora and fauna native to the Darién rainforest.

Masterful coil construction Wounaan baskets are created using thin shreds of Chunga palm fibers dyed into various colors, coiled over thicker Naguala palm. Shredded palm fronds, dried in the sun, readily absorb the vegetal dyes created out of local resources. Roots, berries and river silt are just some of the items that are used to boil, bury, and simmer palm fronds in to take on vibrant colors.

Hand-woven masterpiece

Traditional coil construction passed down through generations of weavers

Naturally sourced materials

Hand-gathered palm fronds, shredded and dyed using locally sourced natural materials

Vegetal Dye Sources

Lianas Vine

A woody climbing plant that hangs from trees, especially in tropical rainforests. It is used to make both a pink color and a cream color, depending on which part of the vine that is used.

Asafran

Saffron makes many colors, including a rich green. Also used to make green are soliman (a seed-like potatoe) and earth.

Cocobolo Wood

Cocobolo is a prized rosewood, used for decorative carvings, knife handles and more. Many carvers leave behind wood shavings that are used as a chocolate colored dye.

Trumpet Vine

Flowers are used to create brilliant colors depending on the time in bloom. Vibrant red and colorful hues or rich, darker hues depending on the lifecycle of the plant.

We work with many weavers, apx 50-75 Wounaan and a dozen Embera weavers. Here we spotlight some of the artists.

About Sara Ginguimia

Sara Ginguimia is an indigenous Panamanian, of the Wounaan tribe. She is from the small remote village of Maje, Chiman, which is located in the dense Darien Rainforest.

Sara started weaving at 14 years old, taught by her older sister who encouraged her to create finer, smaller stitches and to sell her work.

She started weaving cultural design with just black and white colors, finally concentrating on perfecting the feather design (seen at right). She spent years perfecting her design, including paw prints, and finally settled on the feather as her signature design. There is no other weaver who can execute this design with such small, straight stitches, and Sara is know by collectors for her feather pieces with interesting shapes.

Sara collects some of her own materials and dyes, and also purchases unique colors from other weavers. With her expert stitching, she also teaches weaving to help others learn her skill.

Sara grew up in the countryside, and prefers to live there raising her four children. With her basket income she has been able to help pay for her kids’ education, as well as help two of her sons build their own homes.

Our Mission

At Rainforest Baskets our very small team brings beautiful handmade woven art to your space, and empowers indigenous weavers to create a better future for themselves and their families.

Wounaan Master Weavers

Passing down traditions through generations

Traditional & Modern Motifs

Inspired by history and life in the rainforest

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