Patterned Butterflies

Wounaan Rainforest Baskets gain their inspiration from the nature that surrounds them and the geometric patterns of pre-Colombian body painting. The talented women who weave these baskets often incorporate ancient pottery designs and renditions of exotic plant and animal life surrounding them in the Darién rainforest.

Using needles to sew only the supplest of fibers from the native Werregue palm (also called Chunga) and Naguala palms, each basket can take months, or even years, to complete. The pieces reflect an impressive range of colors, stemming from the natural hues of local seeds, roots, berries, fruits, flowers, leaves and other native flora. Learn more.

Stitched over many months and years from natural 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.

From the most diminutive baskets, scarcely larger than a thimble, to magnificent creations spanning three feet in width, painstakingly crafted over the course of eight years, RFB proudly imports an expansive range of woven masterpieces.

In collaboration with our esteemed local partners, we undertake extensive journeys to personally engage with weavers. These voyages involve meticulous inspections of works in progress, as well as the evaluation of recently finished pieces prepared for shipment.