“Bosque Florido” — Hösig Di Basket by Telma Mejia
Handcrafted in Panama
Woven with exceptional precision and vibrant artistry, Bosque Florido is a radiant hösig di basket by Panamanian Wounaan master weaver Telma Mejia. This compact piece features a seamless interplay of geometry and pictorial storytelling: lush green foliage encircles the base, topped by a bold floral bloom at the bottom, while the rim is crowned with an intricate black-and-white motif inspired by ancestral patterns.
Telma uses chunga palm fiber, dyed with vegetal pigments and stitched over a naguala palm core, to render every detail with silk-like finesse. The design is an expression of natura—the Wounaan tradition of honoring rainforest flora and natural cycles through art. From forest canopy to flower crown, this basket is a meditation on nature’s order and beauty.
Meticulously coiled and vividly composed, Bosque Florido is both a technical marvel and a vibrant reflection of Wounaan cosmology and craft.
Details:
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Dimensions: 6" W x 5" H
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Origin: Handwoven in Panama
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Artisan: Telma Mejia, Wounaan master weaver
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Materials: Chunga palm fiber, naguala palm coil, natural dyes
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Technique: Hösig di (traditional Wounaan coiled basketry)
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Motif Type: Natura (rainforest flora and symbolic patternwork)
- Uniqueness: One of a kind
Wounaan Rainforest Baskets are deeply rooted in the land they come from. Woven by Indigenous Wounaan women in the Darién rainforest of Panama, each piece draws inspiration from the surrounding plant and animal life, as well as the geometric forms of ancestral body painting and ancient pottery.
These finely coiled baskets are made by hand using split fibers from the native Werregue (Chunga) and Naguala palms. The process is slow and precise—artists use a simple needle to stitch coil by coil, often working for months or even years on a single piece.
Color is drawn entirely from nature: seeds, roots, berries, bark, and leaves provide a palette that ranges from subtle earth tones to vibrant reds, greens, and black. The result is a woven form of storytelling—art that carries cultural knowledge, natural beauty, and generations of technique.
Handwoven in Panama by
Wounaan Weavers of the Darién
No. of ArtisansOver 50-75+ |
OriginDarién Rainforest, Panama |
Fairly Made. Community Driven.
Every Wounaan basket is purchased directly from the artist at fair prices that support families and preserve tradition.
Each piece is handwoven over many months using natural fibers and plant-based dyes. To protect its color and structure, we recommend displaying your woven art away from direct sunlight or skylights, as UV exposure can fade dyes and weaken fibers over time.
In very dry climates, you may occasionally mist the inside lightly with distilled or non-chlorinated water—similar to caring for wicker or rattan. Gently blot away any excess with a paper towel to help maintain the fiber’s natural balance.
