The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1
Lot 262:
Description
Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1960s
16 × 21 inches
Richly worked reverse appliqué mola panel depicting two elaborately dressed figures standing within the spread wings of two thunderbirds— a cosmologically significant form in Guna visual tradition. Both figures are rendered with individualized white faces and embroidered facial features. The thunderbird’s heads face outward, each with a circular eye, feathered crest in green and teal, and a small pendant figure beneath. The wings are filled with dense horizontal bands of multicolored zigzag and chevron cutwork in red, teal, yellow, orange, blue, and white. Across the upper register, a bold appliquéd inscription in multicolored Roman letters — A, N, P, I, T, N, P, A, R, W, N — a practice of incorporating Western alphabetic forms documented in mid-century Guna mola production. The surrounding ground of olive-charcoal cotton is animated throughout with multicolored bar-and-dash embroidery. Executed in three layers of olive-gray, red, and orange cotton, with extensive supplemental appliqué and hand embroidery.
Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection.
Condition report:
Wear, fading, an area of applique loss, and a small hole are present. In house Flat Rate US Shipping of $15 for 1 -10 molas, $5 each additional 10 molas. Insurance is additional and required.
Share this lot:
