How It’s Made: Materials, Motif & Method

No machines. No shortcuts. Just hand, instinct, and a lifetime of skill.

The materials in our collection come from the raw stuff of the earth—what’s local, what works, what holds meaning:

• Palm fronds from regions like the Darién rainforest, stripped, dried, and dyed by hand.
• Werregue (Chunga) palm—covered in vicious six-inch spines—yields young leaves used in ultra-fine weaving. Its black wood forms house posts. Spiritually, it’s said that ancient rope from this tree once bound demons to riverbanks.
• Carved wood from fallen trees, shaped into masks with deep symbolic presence.
• Copper wire salvaged and transformed by Colombian artists.
• Elephant grass from Ghana and swamp grass from Uganda—coiled into basketry that blends function with sculpture.

In many Wounaan communities, each basket is believed to begin with an inherent spirit. Women who weave them are known as spirit weavers, passing tradition and belief into every stitch.

In the past, palms were cut down for their leaves. Today, weavers climb with tall ladders to harvest without killing the tree—protecting both culture and resource.

These baskets and masks aren’t just beautiful—they carry weight. Discriminating collectors believe that Wounaan Hösig Di baskets rival the finest handwoven works in the world.

Each line tells a story. Each piece, a lifetime.