Sea Turtle and Removable Egg Tagua Carving

Give a desk or a nightstand some rainforest company with this sea turtle and a removable egg, carved by hand from tagua nut in Panama. Its dark brown shell is traced with tan lines as the turtle pushes out from a cream egg. It makes a thoughtful gift for reptile fans, rainforest fans, or anyone who enjoys handmade art. It also looks right at home on a windowsill or in a curio cabinet.

Tagua is the seed of a palm that grows in the rainforests of Central and South America. Once dried, the inside turns hard, smooth and creamy white, much like ivory, which is why it is called vegetable ivory. The seeds are gathered after they fall to the forest floor, so no tree or animal is harmed. Indigenous carvers in Panama's rainforest, most of them Wounaan and Emberá, shape each one with hand tools, then sand it, polish it and paint it by hand with fine inks, so no two carvings are ever alike. We supply our carvers with artist grade inks that are certified non-toxic.

Founded in 1991, TraderBrock celebrates the handcraft of Latin America's indigenous peoples. We work with Guna, Wounaan and Emberá artisans we know by name, and all profits go back into their communities for education, tools and the teaching of ancestral techniques.

Material: Tagua nut (vegetable ivory)
Made in: Panama
Size: Palm sized; most tagua carvings measure about 1.5 to 2 inches
Care: Keep dry and dust with a soft cloth
SKU: TC2596T