Central America, Panama, San Blas Islands, Kuna/Cuna, ca. 1950 CE. A superb and vibrant example of this folk art form created by the Kuna Native American women artisans and from the world's finest collection of molas. This example is a large, multi-layered textile comprised of fabrics manifesting vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, blue, green, pink, and purple on a black ground. The subject is a symmetrical, mirror or split image of a monster, perhaps a snake demon. Kunas fear snakes; however, naibe as they are called by the Kuna feature prominently in mola designs. Split representation is a figurative technique not current in mola art, but practiced in earlier examples.

The folk craft of creating molas began about 125 years ago when the Kunas moved from the mainland to the islands. In their new environment, cooler nights necessitated warmer clothing. At first, women created blouses adorned with simple applique borders, but as time went on, they increased the scale of the decorative areas until the entire front and back panels were comprised of multi-layered, quilted textile designs. This distinctive art form has evolved into a tradition of exceptionally fine needlework and meaningful symbolism.

We are honored to present a selection of molas from the important Kit Kapp collection. According to Tom Hannaher in his text from a debut exhibition of Kuna Molas from the Kit Kapp collection, "Between 1963 and 1971, Kitt Kapp and his wife Valerie conducted over 35 expeditions of the San Blas Islands, as well as remote Kuna villages in Colombia and along the Bayano River in the Darien Peninsula of Panama. Kit's book, Mola Art of the San Blas Islands, was one of the first publications to treat molas as an art form." (Molas from the Collection of Kit Kapp," by Tom Hannaher, 2008)

Provenance: Ex-Kit Kapp collection formed in the very early 1970's. Mr. Kapp acquired the world's largest and best documented collection of Molas, with numerous examples being published.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

#110158

Intact and near choice.