Mola
Artist/Maker
Guna people
(Guna Yala, Panama)
Datenot dated
Mediumdyed cotton and thread
DimensionsOverall: 17 1/2 × 13 1/4 in. (44.5 × 33.7 cm)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineGift of the Estate of Evelyn C. Smiley
Terms
Object number2002.6.2
DescriptionIt is common to see two of the same design elements on a single mola because the Guna utilize the iconography of duality often in their art. The meander border around this pair of pigs recalls the Greek fret or key design, but it appears very commonly in Guna art in everything from molas to the winis worn by Guna women. Creating molas has become a profitable business for Guna women. There are numerous vendors who sell molas and other crafts on the streets of Panamá City. Molas made for tourists have a different quality than those made to be worn. This particular example is made of bright colors that are very typical of molas sold to tourists. Although Guna people like wearing molas with bright colors, washing and wearing them repeatedly can fade the commercially dyed cloth so it is less common to see such vibrant colors on a mola that is to be worn.On View
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