Red Madagascar Wild Silk Cocoon Ornament

Cherry red held inside a shell of natural silk

This ornament is made from an actual Ceranchia apollina wild silk cocoon, retaining the intricate two-part structure created by a moth found only in Madagascar. The inner cocoon is dyed cherry red, then surrounded by its original openwork layer of undyed golden silk.

Seen through the outer fibers, the saturated red center appears softened and luminous rather than solid. The result is especially striking near tree lights or in a window, where the silk’s irregular weave and natural sheen become more visible.

From Madagascar’s Native Silk Moths

Endemic Wild Silk: Ceranchia apollina is native to Madagascar and produces a cocoon with separate inner and outer layers.
Responsible Collection: Farmers protect the developing moths before collecting the emptied cocoons, helping preserve the local wild silk population.
Malagasy Artisan Work: Each ornament is finished by hand through SEPALI Madagascar, a locally staffed organization working with farmers and artisans in the island’s northeastern rainforest region.
Conservation-Based Livelihoods: The wild silk program connects new sources of rural income with native habitat protection and restoration.

Color Revealed Through Texture

Cherry Red Center: The inner cocoon is dyed a rich red that brings seasonal color to the natural material.
Undyed Outer Silk: The surrounding layer retains its original golden hue and airy, web-like construction.
Light-Filtering Form: Open fibers allow the red center to remain visible from every side and shimmer under nearby light.
Naturally Individual: No two cocoons share precisely the same silhouette, fiber pattern, dimensions, or coloration.

A Different Kind of Holiday Red

Tree Ornament: Hang it near warm white lights to emphasize the contrast between red and gold.
Window Display: Suspend it where daylight can pass through the outer layer and reveal the cocoon’s construction.
Seasonal Branches: Mix it among bare twigs, greenery, berries, or other ornaments made from natural fibers.
Year-Round Object: Display it beyond the holidays as a small work of textile art and natural history.

Product Details

Material: Ceranchia apollina wild silk cocoon
Color: Cherry red inner cocoon with natural undyed golden outer cocoon
Dimensions: Approximately 5.5 x 2.5 in
Includes: One cocoon ornament, kraft gift box, and informational story tag
Origin: Handmade from start to finish in Madagascar
Maker: SEPALI Madagascar for Tanana Madagascar
Certification: Verified Fair Trade and Certified Wildlife Friendly
Variation: Natural and handmade differences in shape, size, color, and silk density are expected

Care

Handling: Hold the ornament by its loop and avoid compressing or pulling the fine outer fibers.
Storage: Keep it dry and protected in the included kraft box when it is not displayed.

Ideal For

• Introducing a rich natural red to a handmade holiday collection
• Gifting to someone fascinated by moths, silk, textiles, or Madagascar
• Decorating a tree with materials that retain a visible connection to nature
• Pairing with golden, wooden, botanical, or paper ornaments
• Supporting Malagasy farmers, artisans, and locally led conservation work
• Giving a small object with an unusual material story and genuine geographic origin

Framed by its untouched golden fibers, the cherry red center makes the cocoon’s extraordinary layered architecture impossible to miss.