Bidspirit auction | Guna Mola Panel Political Mola

Guna Mola Panel Political Mola with Canal Zone Contact Era Naval Vessel - Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1960s 14 × 17 inches Exceptionally worked reverse appliqué mola panel of significant historical interest, documenting Guna encounter with American presence in the Canal Zone. The composition is anchored by a meticulously rendered American flag with a navy field of embroidered white cross-stitch stars and appliquéd blue, white, and red horizontal stripes. A stylized naval vessel or submarine with a blue-striped hull appears at center left. Lettering including ”1960” and ”USA” is worked in multicolored appliqué across the composition. Two diamond-form spirit face cartouches appear at upper left and center, each enclosing an embroidered visage with white eyes against a red ground. A five-pointed star cartouche with an embedded spirit face occupies the middle register. Two figures, probably human, are framed in bordered cartouches at lower center register. The surrounding field is densely filled with interlocking serpentine forms, stepped motifs, zigzag bands, and polychrome dash infill throughout. Executed in three layers of crimson, burgundy, and red cotton with extensive applied appliqué passages and embroidery throughout. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection.