Mola
Artist/Maker
Guna people
(Guna Yala, Panama)
Datelate 1940s-mid 1950s
Mediumdyed cotton and thread
DimensionsOverall: 15 x 17 1/2 in. (38.1 x 44.5 cm)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineGift of Dr. Ann Werlin Walzer in memory of Nadine Werlin Cain
Terms
Object number2006.40.27
DescriptionOpinions on cats vary greatly among the Guna. Some say they are a good omen if encountered in a dream, others see them as powerful, mystic felines, and most see them as annoying but effective pest control agents on the islands. Nevertheless, they are a common theme found in both new and old molas. This mola features an all-cotton blue blouse component, a rarity given the predominant use of synthetic fabrics now, with shorter cap sleeves and a traditional neckline. Blue, red, and black are conventional colors for molas, but here these colors are used in conjunction with a colorful array of green, yellow, and orange fabrics. Red and yellow fabric trims the edges of the blouse along with a green zigzag ribbon. A strip of lozenge-shaped patterns lines only the left border, possibly a size adjustment to better fit the maker. The bright colors are piercing, much like the assorted feline eyes that stare back at the viewer. Two pairs of cats share similarities crosswise, as can be seen with contrasting eye (circle/oval), nose (triangular/flared nostrils), and whisker shapes.On View
Not on viewCollections
