Guna Mola Panel with Anthropomorphic Shoe Iconography

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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-1980s 15.5 × 18 inches A whimsical mola panel worked in three layers of reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery featuring stylized Western footwear transformed into anthropomorphic figures with human facial features. The composition presents two large shoe forms flanking two smaller central shoe figures, creating a family grouping that demonstrates the maker's playful approach to documenting foreign material culture. Each shoe is rendered as an elongated oval form with concentric rainbow-colored outlines in yellow, orange, green, pink, and black. The interior of each large shoe contains a distinct human face with white appliqué eyes, embroidered facial features including eyebrows, green nose, and white teeth. The shoe bodies are filled with vertical striped patterns in alternating colors, suggesting the laced or structured nature of Western footwear. Decorative bow or lacing elements appear at the chest area of each large shoe figure. The two smaller central figures follow the same anthropomorphic shoe convention, creating a hierarchical scale suggesting adult and child relationships. The field surrounding the figures is scattered with short vertical line elements in various colors, adding rhythmic visual texture to the red ground. This piece exemplifies a distinctive genre of Guna mola art that playfully anthropomorphizes Western objects, transforming utilitarian goods into character studies. The attribution of human features to shoes suggests both humor and cultural commentary on the foreign footwear observed on Canal Zone workers, merchants, and visitors. Worked on vibrant red cotton ground with layers in black, yellow, orange, green, pink, blue, and white. Fine hand-stitching throughout with consistent stitch density. Dense embroidered fill patterns creating vertical striping within the shoe forms. Strong compositional control with symmetrical arrangement. Single panel on red cotton ground with black backing visible. This piece exemplifies the documentation and playful transformation of Western material culture in traditional Guna textile art. A photo of a similar mola can be found on p. 193 of MOLAS Folk Art of the Cuna Indians by Parker and Neal. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection

  Condition

  Minor wear consistent with age, as well as, a small tear on lower right corner. 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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