Ravinala Wild Silk Wall Hanging

A piece of modern folk art built from silk cocoons and raffia, collaged by hand in the rainforests of northeastern Madagascar. At 18 by 24 inches it is substantial enough to anchor a wall on its own, and the silk catches light in a way a print never will.

It is named for the ravinala, the Travellers Palm, whose name means forest leaves. In Madagascar it is planted at the entrance of a home as a symbol of welcome, associated with strength and endurance — a reminder of nature's generosity, which is a reasonable thing to hang by a front door.

Two species of Madagascar silk go into it: cultivated mulberry silk, and Ceranchia wild silk, a moth found nowhere else on earth. Every piece is different, because the cocoons are.

Materials

Madagascar silk cocoons and woven raffia. Silk species: Ceranchia apollina (wild silk) and Bombyx mori (cultivated mulberry silk).

Sizing

18 in wide by 24 in tall. Hanging loops are sewn to the back; the dowel is not included.

Made in

Handmade from start to finish in northeastern Madagascar.

Please note

Each piece is collaged by hand from individually harvested cocoons, so size, colour and texture vary from the photographs. Tanana Madagascar is the social enterprise of Conservation through Poverty Alleviation International, and returns 100% of its profits to its artisans and farmers through that organisation.