Guna Political Mola Panel Commemorating "Septiembre 1969"

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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 September 1969 15 × 18.5 inches A bold political mola panel worked in three layers of reverse appliqué and appliqué featuring the inscription "SEPTIEMBRE 1969" rendered in dramatic monumental letterforms that fill the entire field. The word "SEPTIEMBRE" spans the upper register in individually colored letters, each outlined in concentric channels of pink, green, yellow, blue, lavender, and orange against black grounds. The numerals "1969" dominate the lower two-thirds of the composition in oversized, deeply echoed forms with up to six concentric color bands per numeral — turquoise, magenta, red, orange, green, yellow, and pink — creating powerful optical depth and visual rhythm. September 1969 marks a pivotal moment in Panamanian political history. General Omar Torrijos, who had seized power in October 1968, survived a counter-coup attempt while traveling abroad and returned to consolidate his control over the government. This event cemented Torrijos's position as Panama's military leader and set the stage for the subsequent negotiations over the Panama Canal that would define Panamanian sovereignty for decades. The composition demonstrates exceptional technical control, with each numeral's concentric channels maintaining precise parallel spacing through complex curves and spiraling interior forms. Small triangular appliqué accent elements in multicolored layers punctuate the spaces between the numerals, providing compositional balance. The vibrant orange cotton ground creates high contrast against the dark letterforms, amplifying the visual impact of this calendar-marker mola. As characteristic of Guna textile tradition, the letters are rendered from memory and exhibit slight variations in form and spacing, reflecting the maker's visual interpretation of observed printed materials. Worked on vibrant orange cotton ground with layers in black, turquoise, magenta, pink, red, green, yellow, blue, lavender, and lime. Fine hand-stitching throughout with consistent stitch density. Complex curved cutwork with precise concentric channels throughout monumental letterforms. Decorative yoke band with white rickrack trim on black. Single panel on orange cotton ground with green backing visible. This piece exemplifies the Guna tradition of documenting politically significant dates in textile form, marking a transformative moment in Panamanian national history. A similar photo of this mola can be found on page 252 of MOLAS Folk Art of the Cuna Indians by Parker and Neal. 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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