A Yellow Lined Jungle Turkey Among The Scrolls Panama Mola

A heavy jungle turkey stands square in the middle of this panel, outlined in bright yellow, his small head crowned with a few red and green stitches and his three toed feet planted flat. His body is a run of tall bars in teal, orange, lemon and magenta, and his tail spreads to the right in long stripes of blue, coral, wine and purple. Yellow scroll shapes float in the black ground around him and a leafy branch in pink and blue leans in from the left. The work is simpler and bolder than on the finest panels, wider shapes and less embroidered filling, which is why it is priced as a bargain. It is 15 inches wide and 10 inches high, a good size for a pillow front. Each shape is cut and turned by hand in reverse applique.

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: 10"
SKU: PM2690T

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