The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1
Lot 20:
Description
Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1970s
18.5 × 19.5 inches
An exceptional mola panel worked in three layers of reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery featuring a monumental bull figure with the Spanish text “EL TORO” (The Bull) prominently displayed above. The composition demonstrates sophisticated integration of figurative representation, text, and decorative border elements, creating a powerful statement about cattle, agricultural life, or possibly bullfighting traditions observed through Guna cultural perspective.
The text “EL TORO” dominates the upper portion of the composition, rendered in bold appliqué letterforms outlined in bright turquoise with each letter filled in different colors—red, yellow, and orange—creating visual interest through color variation. The straightforward declaration announces the subject matter with confidence, transforming the panel into both visual art and linguistic document. This direct labeling approach suggests the maker’s engagement with Spanish language and Western naming conventions while maintaining distinctively Guna aesthetic sensibilities.
The central bull figure commands the lower portion, rendered in a powerful cruciform or spread-eagle composition with the body forming a horizontal bar and legs extending downward. The bull’s head is depicted frontally with a stylized face, while the body is divided into four quadrants, each filled with reverse applique polka dots in white, pink, yellow, and turquoise creating dense textural fields.
The background field is completely activated with vertical line embroidery in multiple colors—blue, orange, white, pink, tan, green, and purple—creating rhythmic striped patterns across the entire red ground. This dense embroidery work transforms the negative space into an energetic field suggesting motion, celebration, or the visual complexity of agricultural fair environments. The top border features a continuous Greek key or stepped fret pattern in red, black, and tan, providing classical architectural framing that elevates the composition to monumental status. Four smaller stylized bull faces are featured in each corner.
The three-layer construction creates depth through color reveals, particularly visible in the bull’s body and the corner head elements. The extensive embroidery throughout—with hundreds of individual running stitches creating the striped background and polka-dot fill patterns—demonstrates exceptional patience and skill. The bold color palette dominated by red ground with turquoise, orange, yellow, green, and white accents creates vibrant visual impact appropriate to celebratory or commemorative themes.
This piece exemplifies the Guna tradition of documenting economically and culturally significant animals through textile art. Bulls held particular importance in agricultural communities and were encountered by the Guna through contact with cattle-raising cultures in Panama and Colombia. The panel may commemorate a specific bull, document bullfighting traditions observed in mestizo communities, or celebrate cattle as symbols of wealth and agricultural prosperity.
Worked on deep red cotton ground with layers in black, turquoise, orange, yellow, green, pink, white, and tan. Three layers with exceptionally dense hand-stitching and embroidery throughout. Complex figurative cutwork and extensive linear embroidery creating activated background. Greek key border pattern demonstrating advanced geometric control. Strong compositional balance integrating text, figure, and decorative elements.
Single panel on red cotton ground with blue backing visible.
This piece exemplifies the documentary and celebratory functions of Guna mola art, demonstrating the creative transformation of cattle iconography and Spanish agricultural vocabulary into a distinctively Guna visual statement combining monumental scale, dense decoration, and confident textual inscription.
Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection
Condition report:
Minor wear consistent with age, small areas of discoloration and a small spot. 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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