Plaited Vessel III — Forest Patina | Wounaan, Colombia
PLAIT-004
Handwoven in Colombia |★★★★★
A smaller plaited vessel from Colombia’s Chocó region, dyed in forest greens and copper. One of three.
Fifteen inches across and fourteen inches tall, woven by Yenny from werregue palm fiber split entirely by hand. The surface is dyed in a continuous gradient of forest greens, copper tones, and deep teal, with no defined graphic pattern. The vessel reads with a quiet metallic presence, almost like patinated bronze in woven form.
This is the smallest of the three vessels and the most uncommon in palette. Where other Wounaan works in this series rely on the traditional black-and-natural vocabulary, this piece moves in a different direction. The all-over dye treatment shifts it closer to a contemporary material language, evoking the atmosphere of an oxidized copper object or a Japanese ikebana vessel rather than a strictly traditional basket form.
The construction follows the same plaited technique as its counterparts. Single-layer werregue palm is hand-split and woven without internal support, allowing the structure to remain both light and precise. The defining element is the dye work: plant-based pigments applied through repeated boiling cycles before weaving, building layered saturation that holds within the fiber itself.
Plaited vessels of this scale are rare without overt pattern. Here, the visual interest comes from structure rather than ornament, with light moving through the woven lattice and across the shifting gradient. In interior light—especially near a window—the surface changes subtly throughout the day.
This vessel can be shown in two forms. Folded inward at the rim, it reads as a rounded, grounded globe. Drawn upward, it becomes a more open classical urn with a tighter herringbone collar at the top. Either configuration is correct; the form is designed to shift.
Woven by Yenny, Wounaan. One of three brought back from her hands.
Details
Dimensions: 15″ W × 14″ H
Material: Werregue palm fiber, plant-dyed (gradient)
Origin: Colombia, Chocó region
Construction: Single-layer plaited, collapsible
Edition: One of one · SKU PLAIT-004
Woven by Wounaan artisans in Colombia’s Chocó rainforest — a tradition passed through generations in one of the most biodiverse regions on earth.
- Approx. 15″ diameter × 8″ H (38 × 25 cm)
- One-of-a-kind artisan basket
- Handwoven in the Colombian rainforest
- 1000's of stitches over months & years
Handwoven in colombia by
Wounaan Master Weavers
No. of Artisans50+ active artists across multiple communities |
OriginChocó Region, Colombia |
Fairly Made. Community Driven.
Each Colombian Wounaan basket is purchased directly from the artist at fair prices that support families, preserve tradition, and sustain local economies.
Along the river communities of Colombia’s Chocó rainforest, Wounaan weavers continue a centuries-old tradition of crafting extraordinary handwoven baskets. Natural palm fibers are wrapped in precise stitches to form bold geometric patterns that reflect the landscape and culture of the region.
Each piece is woven entirely by hand, creating distinctive Wounaan artisan baskets valued for their precision, heritage, and sculptural beauty.
