20"x15" store Mola Fabric Folk Art, Reverse Appliqué, Vintage Folk Art, Hand-Sewn Hand-Made Embroidered Fabric Collage Panel, Mid Century

For your consideration -

This amazing piece of folk art was discovered at the estate sale of a Long Island psychologist.
It is a truly unique piece and I don't know really what to make of it. New research tells me this is called Mola.

Here's what I found. The Mola or Molas is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the indigenous Guna people from Panamá, Central America, and Colombia, South America.

Two groups, the Choco a group who lives near the Isthmus known as Darien were the body painters. Molas may have their origin in body painting. In 1514, Pasqual de Andagoya, arrived in Darian and wrote.. the women store are very well dressed, in embroidered cotton mantles that extend down so as to cover their feet, but the arms and bosom are uncovered. They did not wear blouses even in 1688 until they had been introduced by the missionaries.

Only after colonization by the Spanish and contact with missionaries did the Guna start to transfer their traditional geometric designs on fabric, first by painting directly on the fabric and later by using the technique of reverse appliqué. It is not agreed when this technique was first used. It seems to have been popular in the second half of the nineteenth century.

As an inspiration for their designs, the Guna first used the geometrical patterns which have been used for body painting before. In the past, they have also depicted realistic and abstract designs of flowers, sea animals and birds, and popular culture.

Depending on the tradition of each island, Guna women begin the crafting of molas either after they reach puberty, or at a much younger age. Women who prefer to dress in western style are in the minority as well as in the communities in Panama City.

I know the "figures" look like crosses, but the homeowner was Jewish. It reminds me a bit of the style of Keith Haring. At any rate, I scooped it up.

There is some hot glue residue on the back where it possibly was attached to a frame of some sort. It did not stain or ruin the piece at all.

The measurements are approximately 20 x 15 inches.

I refund shipping overages.