The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1
Lot 313:
Description
Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1960s
10.5, 8.5 inches
Two hand-carved wooden nuchu or uchu medicine dolls each painted in vivid polychrome pigments — a relatively uncommon finish for Guna figures, which are more often left plain or treated with black coating. The taller figure (10.5 inches) wears a grey-blue brimless cap above a narrow elongated face, a yellow tunic with black and green V-neck collar, and green trousers, with arms carved crossed at the waist in a distinctive gesture of containment or self-holding. The shorter figure (8.5 inches) is clad entirely in pale turquoise-blue paint with russet-red accents at the face, chest, and lower body; it wears a close-fitting rounded cap over a wide, expressive face with carved nose and mouth and inset red glass trade-bead eyes, and stands on an oval integral base with legs separated by a carved negative space. 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; painted examples such as these are often identified with specific outsider or foreign spirit personae whose powers are invoked by the nele.
Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection.
Condition report:
Yellow figure has split in wood along face and on back, also missing part of left foot. Blue figure has some areas of discoloration. 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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