ORIGINAL FOLK ART HAND SEWN FABRIC AQUATIC MANTA RAY MOLA TEXTILE FISH MOTIF  Type of Object: MOLA   Ethnic Group: GUNA/KUNA/CUNA-YALA   Country of Origin: PANAMA Materials: COTTON FABRIC  Approximate Age: 10 years +  Dimensions: 15.0" by 12.0"  Weight: 39.24 grams; 2.2 oz  Overall Condition: VERY GOOD (used and faded) 

The sale of molas contributes to the local economy and provides supplemental income to the family unit. In addition, the Mola, the icon of the Kuna nation, further strengthens the Kuna identity and helps perpetuate their successful social cohesion. Our Mola collecting which began and ended in Panama was bracketed by visits and purchases in the Panama old city on the promenade of Los Bobedos in Casco Antiguo where displays of Molas and other crafts were found.  

This extraordinary mola was purchased on the island Carti Suitupu, from one of the islands of the Carti group of Kuna Yala (San Blas Islands, Panama). The clothing of a traditional Kuna woman consists of a printed blue cotton wrapped skirt, red and yellow head scarf, glass beaded arm and leg bracelets, gold nose ring and earrings. The most iconic aspect of the female Kuna clothing is the colorful blouse consisting of a pair the several layered and finely sewn mola panels.

The artistry of a mola reflects designs from both traditional Kuna culture and design influences from the external mass media world. Mola designs are often inspired from imagination and from modern graphics such as political posters, labels, pictures from books, etc. Geometric molas which are the most traditional, have been developed from ancient body painting designs and have their origins in Pre-Columbian times.

Molas are a source of supplemental income for Kuna women and a source of pride and skill which helps to reinforce Kuna ethnic identity. Additional Background Information: I began my fieldwork and ethnographic studies in Kuna Yala in 1979 and have been steadily travelling back there ever since. Every Mola featured in the Ethnix ebay store  has been directly collected from one of these  special journeys. 

Update on recent MOLA acquisitions: In November of 2017 my wife, accompanied me on a somewhat grueling collecting expedition to 4 islands in the San Blas Archipelago chain known as Guna Yala. Our first stop was in the village of Playon Chico, reached by a small Air Panama cessna and then by motor launch. We stayed in the village with a Guna family and came away with a few choice molas and 5 Uchu (nuchu) wooden healing figures.

Despite the excessive heat coupled with the alternative continual tropical downpours which contributed to our exhaustion, we were continually motivated by the friendliness of the Guna inhabitants, especially the children. After two days collecting we began our return to Panamacity via Carti Sugdup with an early morning communal motor launch. We decided to concentrate our remaining time by collecting on three islands in the Carti group; Tupile, Yandup and Sugdup,which proved to be most rewarding. The skill, needle work and imagination of then women

Mola makers here on Sugdup is quite superlative, which I based on the refined, tightly sewn stitching, and variety of colors and themes. Repetitive motifs both classic and inventive were to be found here on Sugdup despite the constant exposure to non-indian interaction from tourists, which incidentally may have influenced the quality and inventiveness of the sewers by factors of supply and demand.