Almost everyone with a passing interest in Panama knows about the molas produced by the Kuna Indians of the San Blas Archepelego. Lesser known are the crafts produced by the Embera Wounaan Indians of the Darien. I love their Tagua nut carvings. Not only are the carvings themselves intriquite but the painting of the carvings bring them to life. The Indians are inspired by the things they see in nature around them…lizards, snakes, turtles, fish, birds, insects…
The Tagua nut comes from palm trees that grow from Panama to Equador. About the size of a small potato they are rock hard. Brown on the inside and white on the outside they are often referred to as “Jungle Ivory.”
The Tagua Nut
Hatching Turtle
Large Iguana
Two Iguanas
Swimming Turtles
Turtles in Flight
One More Good Adventure 