Mola (blouse fragment)
Kuna, San Blas Islands, Panama
The bright colors and intricate designs of Panamanian textiles pulse with energy and life. A mola, worked in reverse appliqué, is a fabric panel for a traditional blouse worn by the Kuna women of Panama’s San Blas Islands. Before the arrival of Spanish missionaries, Kuna women painted similarly colorful designs directly on their body. Today the mola remains an important icon of Kuna culture.
Puzzle size: 24 x 18 in.
Box size: 8⅝ x 10⅝ x 1⅞ in.
Published with the Museum of International Folk Art