Bidspirit auction | Guna Mola Blouse Mirrored Pelicans

Guna Mola Blouse Mirrored Pelicans - Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1970s 17 x 17 inches A traditional Guna woman's blouse with two mola panels (front and back), worked in 3 layers of hand reverse applique, applique, and embroidered details with rickrack trim. The blouse has a green-and-white floral printed cotton yoke and puffed sleeves, a burgundy neck binding, and a white floral printed hem band. On the front panel, two pelicans face each other, with a fish held above one bird's bill, fish motifs at the upper left and center, and the lettering ”PELIGANS” between the birds. Pelicans and fish are frequent mola subjects that reflect the coastal and island setting of Guna Yala, and lettering is a characteristic feature of molas from this period. The back panel shows a second pair of facing pelicans, one holding a fish in its bill, a fish motif at the upper right, and the same ”PELIGANS” lettering. Both panels are framed by a border of geometric block motifs that fills the ground around the central scene.