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TAGUA NUT CARVINGS PAGE 1 OF 2

Tagua Nut Carvings

Tagua nuts, also know as the ivory nut, is the seed of several different palms that grow in tropical rainforests. This nut whose hardness and durability are so close to that of animal ivory has been used for making buttons and jewelry for centuries.

The Wounaan Indians are master artisans from the Darien-Choco region of Panama. Traditional carving in their culture has been centered around hunting weapons, canoes, paddles, household furnishings and ceremonial objects. The Wounaan men have translated their wood carving skills to use on the Tagua nuts, creating unique and imaginative art inspired by plants and animals of the rainforest. The Wounaan artisans carve the Tagua nut with hand tools and polish them with a series of fine abrasives...then use no lacquers or varnishes. The natural color of the nut is ivory white with a dark brown skin. Other colors are produced by dying the Tagua with natural extracts of plants and earth, using the traditional methods for dying basket fibers. Only high quality India Inks are used on those pieces with inked details.

Tagua nuts fall to the forest floor when they mature and are harvested by hand. The parent trees are harmed in no way. Tagua palms grow in the shade of other rainforest trees and in open wet areas. Purchasing Tagua nut carvings helps in conservation and preservation of the tropical rainforests by providing an incentive to these hard working peoples to continue in this tradition...allowing them to have a sustainable income without altering the rainforest to survive.

Carvings: 823/824     Order No. 823X

Two Geckos in Circle Embrace     Height: 1.25"     Width: 2.50"

Depth: 2"     Price: $78.00     Artist: Haandeen

ANOTHER VIEW OF ABOVE CARVING

Carvings: 825/826     Order No. 825X

Sitting Sloth     Height: 2"     Width: 1.50"

Depth: 1.75"     Price: $86.00     Artist: J.W.P.

ANOTHER VIEW OF ABOVE

Carving: 827/828     Order No. 827L

Praying Mantis Sitting on a Tagua Nut     Praying Mantis on the Left:    

 Height: 2"     Length: 1.25"     Width: 1"     Price: $78.00

Artist: Domitilo Chichiliana (signed)

Praying Mantis on the Right:  Order no. 827R

This piece is missing the Right Praying Arm at Elbow..and is discounted.

Height: 2"     Length: 1.50"     Width: 1.50"

Price: $84.00...Discounted to $62.00

Artist: Domitilo Chichiliana(signed)
 

ANOTHER VIEW OF ABOVE