Bidspirit auction | Guna Mola Blouse Botanicals

Guna Mola Blouse Botanicals - Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1970s 15.5 x 16.5 inches A traditional Guna woman's blouse with two mola panels (front and back), worked in 3 layers of hand reverse applique, applique, and hand embroidery with rickrack trim. The blouse has a red printed cotton yoke and puffed sleeves decorated with bluebirds on leafy branches, a tan and black neck binding, and a white hem band. On the front panel, a stylized plant with a central stem branches into large, paired leaves on an orange ground, each leaf filled with maze-like cutwork in contrasting colors. The strong vertical axis and balanced leaf placement give the design a clear, symmetrical structure. On the back panel, a closely matched companion design repeats the branching plant and paired leaves in a varied color arrangement. Plant forms are a longstanding subject in Guna molas, and here they are rendered almost entirely through bold, interlocking outlines.