Aqua Numerals Curling Across Hot Orange Panama Mola

Two big numerals swing across this panel in wide bands of pale aqua edged with burgundy and black, sitting on a ground of hot orange that could not be brighter. They are not so much written as drawn, the strokes rounded off and looped back until they read as much like waves as like figures. Two burgundy blossoms with ragged edges and white centers are set into the curves, and small wedges of teal, gold, olive and violet are scattered around them like counters on a board. It is 15 inches wide and 11 inches high. Every line is cut and turned by hand in the reverse appliqué the Guna are known for.

Molas are traditionally hand stitched panels made by the Guna people of Panama, once known as the Kuna. Several layers of colored cotton are stacked, then cut down through one layer at a time so the colors underneath show through, and the raw edges are turned and stitched closed. The technique is called reverse appliqué. On this panel the artisan worked with a sewing machine rather than closing every edge by hand, which keeps the lines crisp and makes it a sturdy, practical choice for a pillow cover or a sewing project.

TraderBrock has bought directly from Guna, Embera, Wounaan and Ngäbe artisans since 1991, and sales revenue goes back into those communities for education, medical care, tools and land. This panel came from Guna Yala, the San Blas islands off Panama's Caribbean coast. It is ready to frame, mount, or sew into a pillow or a quilt panel, and it can be hand washed. No two molas are ever alike, and small variations in size, stitching and color are normal in handmade textiles.

Width: 15"
Height: 11"
SKU: PM2567T

MACHINE WASHABLE To clean, machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle tumble dry on low, do not bleach or iron