Guna Mola Panel Depicting the Merlion of Singapore

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The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1

By Dana Auctions LLC

May 16, 2026

Set Reminder 2026-05-16 11:00:00 2026-05-16 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Parker & Neal Mola Collection - Part 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/dana-auctions-llc/the-parker-neal-mola-collection---part-1-23111
The Parker-Neal Mola Collection Auction on May 16 presents a compelling selection of molas drawn from the renowned collection of Ann Parker and Avon Neal, co-authors of Molas: Folk Art of the Cuna Indians. This first offering has been thoughtfully curated to highlight some of the most interesting and visually striking examples from their extensive holdings. Dana Auctions LLC dana@danaauctions.com

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• Lot Description
  Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1970s 15.5 × 19 inches A striking mola panel worked in three layers of reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery depicting the Merlion — the iconic half-lion, half-fish symbol of Singapore — in a dynamic composition accompanied by human/fish figure and a serpent. This remarkable piece demonstrates the Guna maker's engagement with global imagery, likely inspired by a souvenir, postcard, or printed advertisement encountered through Panama's international maritime trade. The Merlion dominates the composition, its massive fish body curving in a sweeping crescent from upper left to lower right, outlined in yellow and dark channels. The creature's broad tail fin features multicolored dash fill in black and dark tones with blue accent stripes, while the body interior is densely packed with alternating vertical dash appliqué in yellow, green, pink, orange, and blue, creating vibrant visual texture. At upper right, the lion's face is rendered as a bold rectangular mask framed in white with a dark surround, encircled by radiating yellow rays suggesting both the creature's mane and solar power. The face features asymmetrical black and white eyes, a prominent yellow T-shaped nose, multicolored embroidered dot detail on the cheeks, and a wide green-outlined mouth revealing pronounced white teeth — a wonderfully expressive interpretation of the sculptural original. The Merlion, designed in 1964 as Singapore's tourism symbol, combines a lion's head representing Singapore's original name Singapura ("Lion City") with a fish body symbolizing the nation's origins as a fishing village. Its image was widely disseminated on products and souvenirs throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific shipping routes, making it accessible to Guna communities connected to international trade through the Panama Canal zone. Worked on deep red/burgundy cotton ground with layers in black, dark grey, yellow, green, orange, blue, pink, magenta, white, and turquoise. Three-layer construction with consistent hand-stitching throughout. Elaborate spiral embroidery on the bird eyes and multicolored running stitch on the bird body. Segmented serpent appliqué with individually colored outlines. Dense vertical dash fill throughout. Single panel on burgundy cotton ground with black backing visible. This piece represents a rare and fascinating example of global iconographic exchange in Guna mola art, transforming a Southeast Asian national symbol into the visual vocabulary of Caribbean indigenous textile tradition. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection

  Condition

  Minor wear and fading consistent with age and use. 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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