Guna Mola Panel with Abstract Floral Maze Design

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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 13.5 × 17.5 inches A striking abstract mola panel worked in three layers of reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery featuring a complex maze-like composition of interlocking curvilinear forms punctuated by stylized floral motifs. This piece exemplifies the Guna tradition of pure design exploration, where the maker prioritizes formal visual relationships—line, color, rhythm, and spatial organization—over representational subject matter. The composition presents a continuous labyrinthine pattern of broad curved bands that weave throughout the field, creating an all-over design with no single focal point. The dominant curving forms are rendered in burgundy-red ground with black interlayer visible throughout, outlined in vibrant orange appliqué that creates strong graphic definition. These serpentine paths create enclosed spaces of varying sizes and shapes, each filled with additional patterning. Within the curved maze-like bands, the maker has applied diagonal striping in orange appliqué against black ground, creating a rhythmic texture that suggests movement or flow along each pathway. Small orange dashes and dots punctuate the burgundy sections, adding visual interest and preventing any sense of static emptiness. Four prominent floral or cross-form motifs serve as nodes or anchor points within the maze structure. Each flower is worked in sophisticated multi-layer appliqué: the outer petals in colors varying between pink, blue, and green, inner petals in contrasting hues including white, yellow, and turquoise, with central medallions featuring cross or X motifs in pink and yellow embroidery. These floral elements appear at strategic positions—upper left, upper center, center, and lower right—creating a loose diagonal rhythm across the composition while maintaining the overall sense of continuous interwoven patterning. Brilliant yellow lines traverse the composition diagonally, appearing to float above or weave through the maze structure. These linear elements may represent stems connecting the floral nodes, or they may function as purely abstract compositional devices that guide the eye through the complex field. Small turquoise, yellow, and white dashed running stitches follow some of the curved pathways, adding additional linear detail and chromatic variation. The border treatment is minimal—simple geometric corner elements in orange outlining suggest framing without overwhelming the densely worked central field. This mola demonstrates sophisticated understanding of positive and negative space, figure-ground relationships, and the visual tension between organic curves and geometric order. The maze-like structure creates a sense of continuous movement as the eye attempts to follow pathways through the composition, while the floral punctuation points provide moments of rest and focal attention. The abstract, non-representational approach places this piece in dialogue with modernist design principles—the maker's intuitive exploration of form, color, and pattern relationships parallels developments in twentieth-century abstract art, yet remains firmly rooted in Guna textile vocabulary and construction techniques. Worked on burgundy-red cotton ground with black interlayer. Fine hand-stitching throughout with consistent edge work along all curves. Three-layer reverse appliqué construction with sophisticated color sequencing in floral motifs. Strong compositional control maintaining visual interest across entire field without hierarchical focal points. Single panel on burgundy cotton ground with black interlayer visible throughout. Black backing visible at reverse. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection

  Condition

  Minor wear consistent with age. 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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