About This Itemthis one of a kind Wounaan Indian RAINFOREST Pictorial Basket is made by the Wounaan Indians of the Darien Rainforest in Panama. They are truly a beautiful and talented small people group (app. 5,000) living mainly in small communities on rivers in isolation from the rapidly encroaching modern world. The women are incredibly patient, occasionally taking over a year to weave their spectacular decorative masterpieces, using an impressive spectrum of totally natural dye colors extracted from plants, trees, mud and fruits surrounding them. Sun-bleached strips of chunga (a black palm fiber) are placed in boiling water with the dye ingredients. The resulting colored chunga is often traded and shared with others to maximize efficiency. The Wounaan believe that the natural and the spiritual are inseparably linked. The two basic categories of basketry are 'Cultural' and 'Pictorial'. Any geometric design is called Cultural as the Wounaan paint various geometric designs on their bodies during important cultural celebrations. The Pictorial includes plants, fish, insects and animals familiar to their environment. The Wounaan create baskets for both practical use and ceremonial purposes and they’ve been known to weave masks for spiritual use. Many experts in the field classify Wounaan basketry as the best in the world. This art form is in its ascendancy and the vital cash income from these baskets enables purchase of food, medicine and educational materials. A valid income may be an important hedge of protection from increasing Colombia guerilla and drug trade incursions into Wounaan territory. The Wounaan’s income from their basketry also help them to preserve their beloved rainforest home, which is rapidly being depleted due to the development of the Pan American Highway. This piece of basketry has been tightly and intricately woven. It stands 5-3/4" tall and boasts a circumference of 21-3/4" at the widest point. The opening has a diameter of 4" and the width is 6". Country Of Origin (Panama)Inventory: 1 |