Points Credit : 0 points Currently valued at $0.00

Original Colorful Mola ~ Superb ~ Handcrafted Fabric Art Work, Kuna Indian, San Blas Island, Panama - Gorgeous Light Color Wood Frame, Mola Art under non-glare glass ... For life-long protection.

Custom Frame with non-glare glass measures approx. 20-1/8" wide by 14-1/8" high by 1-1/8" thick.

Mola Art measures approx. 16-1/8" wide by 10" high.

Excellent Vintage condition...No flaws that we can find. Ready to hang on your wall.

Molas are hand made using a reverse appliqué technique. Several layers (usually two to seven) of different-coloured cloth (usually cotton) are sewn together; the design is then formed by cutting parts of each layer away. The edges of the layers are then sewn down; the finest molas have extremely fine stitching, made using tiny needles.

In Dulegaya, the Kuna's native language, "mola" means "shirt" or "clothing". The mola originated with the tradition of Kuna women painting their bodies with geometrical designs, using available natural colours; in later years these same designs were woven in cotton.

As an inspiration for their designs, the Kuna first used the geometrical patterns which have been used for body painting before. In the past 50 years, they also started to depict realistic and abstract designs of flowers, sea animals and birds.

The largest pattern is typically cut from the top layer, and progressively smaller patterns from each subsequent layer, thus revealing the colours beneath in successive layers. This basic scheme can be varied by cutting through multiple layers at once, hence varying the sequence of colours; some molas also incorporate patches of contrasting colours, included in the design at certain points to introduce additional variations of colour.

Molas vary greatly in quality, and the pricing to buyers varies accordingly. A greater number of layers is generally a sign of higher quality; two-layer molas are common, but examples with four or more layers will demand a better price. The quality of stitching is also a factor, with the stitching on the best molas being close to invisible. Although some molas rely on embroidery to some degree to enhance the design, those which are made using only the pure reverse-appliqué technique (or nearly so) are considered better.

A mola can take from two weeks to six months to make, depending on the complexity of the design.

"The beauty of a mola is in the eyes of the beholder".

Note: This item is for USA shipping only...No International Shipping.

** Items may be returned within 7 business days for a store credit of equal value.