The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1
Lot 148:
Description
Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1970s
16 × 20 inches
Exceptionally worked mola panel in reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery, depicting a large central caiman in profile with an open serrated jaw, diamond-shaped embroidered eye with concentric stitch surround, and a dorsal body densely filled with a grid of individually colored rectangular scale motifs in red, orange, blue, pink, purple, yellow, green, and white — a virtuosic display of color sequencing. The sweeping curvilinear body is outlined in bold orange and red against the charcoal ground. Flanking the caiman are five subsidiary figures: a frontally posed thunderbird with embroidered star eye at upper left, a double-headed bird form at upper center, a small star-form motif at upper right, a quadruped animal at lower left, a penguin-like bird at lower center, and a standing bird figure at lower right — each individually outlined in cyan, pink, or yellow-green appliqué. The field is saturated throughout with horizontal rows of multicolor oval dash embroidery in alternating registers of red, yellow, cyan, and lime green. Worked in three layers of black, red, and gold cotton. Fine, consistent hand-stitching throughout.
Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection
Condition report:
Minor wear consistent with age. Vibrant color. In house Flat Rate US Shipping of $15 for 1 -10 molas, $5 each additional 10 molas. Insurance is additional and required.
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