Guna Mola Panel with Thunderbird and Halibut Myth

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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 × 19 inches A dynamic narrative mola panel worked in three layers of reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery depicting the mythological encounter between a thunderbird and a halibut, a theme rooted in indigenous American cosmology and here rendered through Guna visual traditions. A large halibut dominates the left side of the composition, its massive body filled with rows of multicolored chevron-shaped scale motifs in blue, turquoise, pink, orange, yellow, green, and white against the red ground. The fish's head features a prominent eye, an open mouth with hook, and a diagonal orange fisherman's spear line. Dense multicolored embroidered stitching in rows fills the head area, and the fin is rendered with radiating bands of polychrome embroidery. A great thunderbird occupies the right side, depicted with a crested head bearing pointed ears, an embroidered eye, and an open beak. Its outstretched wings are filled with multicolored rectangular grid motifs in blue, white, turquoise, pink, yellow, and black, while the body and tail feature dense horizontal dash patterns and bold striped elements. The thunderbird's talons extend downward, engaging with the halibut below. A human figure stands at center between the two great beings, rendered in dark appliqué with blue outlining, wearing a colorful garment with a multicolored embroidered striped skirt and detailed facial features — possibly a fisherman or mythological hero witnessing the cosmic struggle. A stylized tree or world tree rises between the figures at upper center, its lobed leaves rendered in yellow appliqué against a dark ground, suggesting the axis connecting the sky realm of the thunderbird and the water realm of the halibut. A small dark figure at the upper left directs his spear at the halibut. Dense horizontal dash filler motifs in yellow, pink, turquoise, and orange fill the surrounding field. Worked on deep red/magenta cotton ground with dark gray/charcoal backing visible on reverse. Three layers of reverse appliqué reveal dark gray and turquoise beneath the red ground, with orange and yellow appliqué outlining the major forms. Fine hand-stitching throughout with consistent stitch density. Dense, fully filled composition with no negative space. Single panel on red cotton ground. This piece depicts the mythological struggle between the thunderbird — lord of the sky — and the halibut — ruler of the sea — a powerful creation narrative found across indigenous American traditions and here interpreted through the Guna maker's distinctive visual language. 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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