Guna Mola Panel with Paired Iguana Figures

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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 13.75 × 17.5 inches A vibrant mola panel worked in three layers of reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery featuring two large iguana figures arranged in mirrored horizontal orientation against a brilliant red ground. This piece exemplifies the Guna tradition of depicting indigenous fauna with both naturalistic accuracy and decorative stylization, celebrating the green iguana (Iguana iguana) that inhabits the coastal forests and mangroves of the San Blas archipelago. The composition presents two iguanas of equal scale positioned in opposing horizontal registers—one facing left in the upper portion, one facing right in the lower. This symmetrical arrangement creates visual balance while allowing the maker to demonstrate technical mastery through repetition with variation. Each iguana is rendered in black with bold yellow outlining, creating strong contrast against the red ground and establishing the creatures' distinctive silhouettes. The upper iguana displays characteristic anatomical features: an elongated head with open mouth rendered in red appliqué, prominent eye executed as concentric circles in white, pink, and red with multicolored radiating embroidery suggesting the reflective quality of reptilian vision, powerful front and hind legs with individually articulated claws in red and green, and a long tapering tail that curves gracefully along the body's contour. The dorsal surface is decorated with vertical striping in lime green and purple appliqué, creating a chromatic gradient that suggests the iguana's scaled texture and the color variations observed in living specimens. The lower iguana mirrors this construction with subtle variations in color palette—its dorsal patterning features blue, yellow, and pink vertical stripes, demonstrating the maker's interest in exploring chromatic possibilities while maintaining compositional unity. The creature's body similarly shows detailed limb articulation and a prominent circular eye motif. Throughout the red ground, the maker has activated negative space with clusters of vertical dashed embroidery in contrasting colors—green, black, orange, yellow, turquoise, blue, pink, and white. These linear elements appear in organized groups of three to five dashes, creating rhythmic patterning that suggests vegetation, rainfall, or ambient energy. The embroidered elements are particularly concentrated around the iguanas' bodies, integrating the creatures into their environmental context. The upper border features a distinctive decorative band with white rickrack trim against gray backing fabric. Orange horizontal bars at the top edge may represent branches, sky, or architectural elements. A lower corner detail shows a geometric motif in yellow outlined in blue—possibly representing a simplified iguana head or abstract symbol. Green iguanas hold both practical and symbolic significance in Guna culture—they are hunted for food, their presence indicates healthy forest ecosystems, and their ability to move between land and water connects them to Guna cosmological concepts of boundary-crossing and transformation. The pairing of two iguanas may suggest mating pairs, duality concepts, or simply the maker's desire to create a balanced, visually satisfying composition. Worked on brilliant red cotton ground with layers in black and red. Fine hand-stitching throughout with consistent edge work along complex curves. Three-layer reverse appliqué construction with sophisticated color sequencing in the dorsal patterning. Strong compositional control with mirrored horizontal arrangement. White rickrack trim at upper edge on gray backing fabric. Single panel on red cotton ground with black interlayer visible throughout. Red backing fabric visible at reverse. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection Complexity Assessment Note: This piece scores in Tier B-C range (22-25 points): Layers: 3 (score: 3) Stitch Quality: Fine, consistent stitching (score: 4) Design Density: Well-filled with balanced negative space (score: 3-4) Cutwork: Complex curves throughout reptilian forms (score: 4) Color Layering: Thoughtful dorsal stripe sequencing (score: 4) Iconography: Strong zoomorphic representation with naturalistic detail (score: 4) Composition: Effective mirrored symmetry (score: 4) The iguana theme is a classic Guna subject, and this example demonstrates solid technical execution with particularly effective use of color gradation in the dorsal patterning and strong overall visual impact.

  Condition

  Minor wear and subtle fading 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.
• Shipping Info

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