The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1
Lot 199:
Description
Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1970s
13.5 × 17 inches
Richly worked reverse appliqué mola panel organized around a central tree of life composition, its bifurcated canopy filled with large stylized tropical leaves, chain-link motifs, and eye-form cutouts rendered in orange, yellow, pink, blue, green, and purple on a black ground. Below the tree, a narrative lower register depicts three figures: at left, a blue figure holding a basket or vessel, and at right, an orange figure accompanied by a fish and a spotted vessel, central on the tree, a green figure appears to be climbing up the trunk. A small bird perches at the trunk’s intersection. The saturated red ground is densely worked throughout with polychrome embroidered dot registers. The panel is bordered at top and bottom by a yellow and teal sawtooth band, with a multicolored triangle-repeat column along the right edge. Executed in reverse appliqué, applied appliqué, and embroidery in red, black, yellow, blue, green, orange, pink, and purple cotton, in three layers.
A similar photo of this mola can be found on page 66 of MOLAS Folk Art of the Cuna Indians by Parker and Neal.
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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