Blackfin Woven Fish | Handmade Emberá Art

Name: Blackfin Woven Fish | Handmade Emberá Art
Brand: RFB Woven Art
SKU: FSH-0020
Price: 250.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Blackfin Woven Fish - Handmade Embera Art

Emberá artisans weaving in Panama's Darién rainforest

Handwoven Emberá art from Panama's Darién rainforest

Preparing chunga palm fiber for Emberá weaving, Panama

Handwoven by the Embera |★★★★★

Handwoven Emberá Fish

A compact gold and black body with a white lined decorative woven fin. Its only internal support is bundled palm fronds, shredded and dyed, then wrapped with more shredded palm to build a firm coil. One of a kind and not repeatable, this is new art from the Emberá, a Darién tribe known for their skill with the materials found around them.

Made by hand by Emberá artisans in Panama’s Darién Province, using the same materials and the same weavers as our Emberá masks. Chunga palm fiber is split into fine strands, dyed with natural plant-based pigments, and built through a dense coiling process that forms structure and pattern at once.

Details

Dimensions: Approx. 16 in long × 3 in wide × 10 in high (41 × 8 × 25 cm), including fins
Material: Chunga palm fiber, natural plant-based dyes
Origin: Handwoven in Darién Province, Panama by Emberá artisans
Edition: One of one · SKU FSH-0020

Most pieces stand on their own, or on a metal stand with positionable arms. Keep out of direct sunlight to protect the natural plant dyes, especially the deep blacks and reds.

RFB buys directly from the weavers themselves and through their cooperative and tribal representatives, so each piece comes with its story intact.

Learn about Emberá woven art →

Care: Dust with a soft dry cloth; keep away from direct sunlight and moisture
Shipping: Free within the continental US · ships in 1–3 business days
Returns: 14-day returns in original condition

$250.00

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Approx. 16 in long × 3 in wide × 10 in high (41 × 8 × 25 cm), including fins
One-of-a-kind handwoven figure
1000's of stitches over weeks & months
Traditional Embera weaving artistry

Free Returns 14 Days

Artisan Made Direct from Community

Trusted Since 2000 25+ Years

Handwoven in panama by

Emberá Tribe Women

No. of Artisans

Embera weavers across multiple communities

Origin

Darién rainforest, eastern Panama

Fairly Made. Community Driven.

Each piece is bought directly from the weaver or a member of the community at fair prices that support families, sustain river communities, and keep this tradition alive.

Along the rivers and coast of Panama's Darién, Emberá women weave the creatures of the water they have always lived beside. Fish, sharks, rays and sawfish take shape in their hands.

Using the same finely shredded palm fiber and natural plant dyes as their traditional baskets, each piece is coiled and shaped entirely by hand.

These are not carved. They are woven in the round, turning a basketry tradition into sculpture, one coil at a time.

The Story

Along the rivers of Panama's Darién, the Emberá are people of the water. They travel by dugout canoe, fish the same currents their families have for generations, and know the creatures beneath the surface by heart.

That world is what they weave. Each fish, ray and sawfish in The Shoal is a portrait of the water, made by hand from dyed palm fiber. The technique is the same coiling that shapes Emberá baskets, carried forward into sculptural form and shared now with collectors who will keep these pieces for years to come.

Dyes Sourced from Nature

Cocobolo Wood

Deep brown from the heartwood of a rainforest tree.

Trumpet Vine

Wild rainforest blossom, turned to warm red and orange dye.

Saffron

Golden pigment from delicate threads

The Making

Each piece begins as chunga palm. The inner fiber is split into fine strands, dyed with rainforest plants, then wrapped coil by coil around a core of bundled palm fronds to build a firm, sculptural form.

Nothing is painted and nothing is carved. The color comes only from the dyes, and the shape comes only from the weaving. Depending on size, a single fish can take days or weeks of continuous work, which is part of why no two are ever the same

FAQ's

A woven Emberá fish is a handmade sculpture created by Indigenous Emberá women in the rainforest of Panama's Darién. Using palm fiber gathered from the forest, the weaver forms an expressive fish, shark, ray or sawfish entirely by hand. Each one is one of a kind.

They are woven from chunga palm fiber, a rainforest plant that is harvested, split into fine strands and dyed before weaving. The fiber is wrapped coil by coil over a core of bundled palm fronds. Chunga palm is flexible and durable, which lets the weaver build the firm, sculptural forms these pieces are known for. The color comes entirely from plant dyes, no paint.

Authentic pieces show the detail and variation that only comes from hand weaving. Look closely and you will see fine, even coiling, natural fiber, and small differences in shape and color that reveal the hand of the weaver. Every piece in The Shoal is woven from chunga palm by Emberá women using techniques passed down for generations, and sourced directly from them.

Each piece is one of one. Nothing is molded or reproduced, no two are alike, and there is no restocking. Collectors and interior designers value them as woven sculpture, both for the craftsmanship and for the water world of the Darién they represent.

Most pieces stand on their own, or on a metal stand with positionable arms for the ones that prefer a little support. Some collectors place a single fish as a focal point, others group several to play the different forms and colors against each other. The sculptural shapes and natural fiber add texture and character to a space.

Free shipping within the continental US. Contact us for shipping outside the US at jen@woven.art, and we will offer options.

Free pre-paid returns with 14 days. Love it or return it with no obligation.

Each piece is handwoven over many months using natural fibers and plant-based dyes, reflecting the traditions of skilled artisans. To preserve the color and structure of your handwoven basket or woven art, display it away from direct sunlight or skylights, as prolonged UV exposure can fade natural 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 and long-term durability.

With proper care, artisan woven baskets made from natural materials can retain their beauty and strength for many years.

Blackfin Woven Fish - Handmade Embera Art