Artwork Page for Enclosed Bird Mola Panel

Details / Information for Enclosed Bird Mola Panel

Enclosed Bird Mola Panel

mid 1900s

Republic of Panamá, Gunayala Comarca, Guna people, Sugtupo community

Medium
cotton: reverse appliqué
Measurements
Overall: 44 x 57.2 cm (17 5/16 x 22 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. F. Louis Hoover 1971.206
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
Not on view
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Description

Made in pairs—identical or closely related—mola panels naturally play on the concept of duality. The idea of the double runs deep in Guna belief, and this framework also guides the designs of individual panels. Motifs are often doubled, presented as mirror images, or composed so that one side of the design mimics the other , as we see here, with strong emphasis on balancing the right and left sides of the composition.
A rectangular red cotton textile features a large, central heart-shaped form enclosing a pink and yellow striped bird. Two yellow birds occupy the upper corners, while a smaller bird and a blue lobster-like creature sit along the bottom edge. These reverse appliqué motifs are framed by rows of multicolored triangles. A pink vessel-like form and orange shapes fill the left side, all set against a vibrant red background detailed with small geometric patterns.

Enclosed Bird Mola Panel

mid 1900s

Republic of Panamá, Gunayala Comarca, Guna people, Sugtupo community

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