Guna Political Mola Panel Depicting Presidential Candidate Galindo

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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 15.5 × 19 inches An exceptional political mola panel worked in two layers of reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery featuring a striking portrait-style composition celebrating a Panamanian political figure. The panel functions as a textile campaign poster, combining portraiture, national symbolism, and text in a densely worked composition against a dark grey/black ground. The right side of the composition presents a large frontal portrait of a male figure with a round face outlined in concentric red and orange bands. The figure wears prominent blue eyeglasses with carefully rendered lenses showing embroidered eyes, a red nose, white teeth, and multicolored embroidered hair fringe along the forehead. A white shirt collar and multicolored embroidered necktie complete the formal attire, suggesting a figure of political authority. To the left, a large raised arm and clenched fist outlined in red and orange extends upward in a gesture of strength and leadership, dominating the upper portion of the panel. Within the body area, a small framed portrait — rendered in red with a white-ground embroidered face — appears as a campaign photograph or official image, with the embroidered letters "C.R.P." nearby, possibly indicating a political party affiliation. Text bands rendered in multicolored appliqué letters identify the figure: "GALINDO" appears prominently across the top register, "ARIAS" and "ALFARO" in the central field, and "CARLOS ROWE" along the bottom border. A miniature Panamanian flag — carefully worked in its correct quartered pattern of white with blue star, red, blue, and white with red star — appears at the left edge, anchoring the composition in national identity. The field is densely activated with rows of short multicolored vertical dashes in orange, red, pink, purple, yellow, blue, and white, creating rhythmic visual texture throughout. As characteristic of Guna textile tradition, the text is rendered from memory with variations in letter form and spacing, reflecting the maker's visual interpretation of observed political signage and campaign materials. Worked on black cotton ground with red as the second layer, featuring extensive appliqué in multicolored fabrics. Fine hand-stitching throughout with consistent stitch density. Dense embroidered details enhance the portrait, particularly the eyeglasses, hair, and tie. The small framed portrait demonstrates remarkable miniature embroidery skill. Single panel on black cotton ground with pink backing visible. This piece exemplifies the incorporation of Panamanian electoral politics into traditional Guna textile art, documenting the maker's engagement with national political campaigns and democratic participation. The combination of portraiture, raised fist iconography, national flag, and candidate names creates a powerful visual statement of political support. A similar photo of this mola can be found on page 213 of MOLAS Folk Art of the Cuna Indians by Parker and Neal. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection

  Condition

  Minor wear and fading. 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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