The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1
Lot 310:
Description
Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1940s
10.75 inches
Hand-carved wooden nuchu or uchu medicine doll with a slender columnar body and an elongated ovoid head featuring heavy-lidded almond eyes carved with traces of blue-grey pigment, a prominent ridged nose, and a small mouth. The figure wears a sleeveless handwoven tunic of purple and ecru vertical stripes, densely embellished throughout with polychrome supplementary-weft embroidery in wine, lavender, teal, turquoise, cobalt, coral, and yellow — forming stepped, zigzag, and crosshatch motifs that fully cover the front and back. Nuchukana are sacred spirit figures carved from specific woods and called upon by Guna neles (shamans/medicine people) to house helper spirits who assist in healing ceremonies and protective rituals.
Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection.
Condition report:
Wooden doll has wear consistent with age. Tunic has several spot and areas of discoloration, as well as, loose embroidery. 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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