Mola

NameBlouse

CultureKuna; Cuna; Guna

Date1960s

Place madeSan Blas Islands/ Guna Yala, Panama, Central America

MediumCotton

Dimensions19 7/8 × 17 11/16 in. (50.5 × 45 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of Martha Newfield, A.2020.1.1

Object numberA.2020.1.1

ProvenanceCollected by John and Polly Arango when Peace Corps volunteers in Panama in 1960s. Later given to donors.

DescriptionThis blouse's yoke and sleeves are a rainbow striped commercial cotton edged in black with golden-yellow rick-rack decoratiing sleeve edge and pink/green rick-rack in area above molas. One side of the blouse shows two large stylized birds, whose individual feathers are deliniated in a miniscule chain stitch. Each are appliqued with the word CRESS (similar to the Spanish Cras---a call for large birds). The two birds are directed toward two smaller birds contained within a squarish form. Between the two birds is a mermaid figure. The other side of the blouse shows two sea snakes/serpents with forked tongues. Wrapped within each is a seated human figure holding what resembles eyeglasses. Under each figure is the word RANGIGUS. The fish swims on each side of snake/serpent.