COCOBOLO (WOOD CARVINGS)
Cocobolo, a wood that comes from a tropical tree, is very important for the Embera people. The cocobolo carvings are made with great delicacy. The shape is inspired by my many different species of animals. It is common to see works of birds, forest animals and reeds.
All work is done by hand. Children from 7 years old up to adults are engaged in cocobolo carving.
The cocobolo tree grows in the tropics of Panama. It can grow as high as approximately 30 metres. It is a very strong and termite resistant wood. It is also used to make drums or to make a pole in a traditional Emberá house.
An axe is used to cut the tree. A piece of cocobolo wood, before finishing, can weigh up to 1 kilogram. After finishing, it normally weighs ½ pound.
To finish the wood, the Embera men use sandpaper of different varieties to give it its nice shine. The wood has a nice, natural shine.
A cocobolo carving is often passed down from generation to generation of a family.
Cocobolo wood scraps are of great use to Embera women because of their colour, which can be used to dye chunga fibres. Cocobolo can be black, yellow or striped black.
