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OUR COLLECTION — LATIN AMERICA — PANAMA  202. MOLA NATIVITY HANGING

Picture
This mola Nativity was made by a Kuna Indian family of three generations from the Ustupu island in Panama. The family’s last name in Spanish is Rivera (even though Kunas have their own dialect and names in their native tongue.) As customary in their tradition, the women learn to sew from the age of 12 and continue to do so as a lifetime profession. The men, however, work with baskets and fishing; many of them have jobs in the nearby cities.

This Nativity hanging is an authentic handmade mola in reverse applique from the San Blas region of Panama. The unique interpretation by the Kuna Indian woman who created this design is evident in her choice of bright colors and many, many hours of hand-stitching work. Her tiny stitches are almost hidden by her expert hand. She has incorporated leaves behind the stars that one would find in her tropical environment. The most interesting feature of this mola is that the artisan included a birthday cake to celebrate baby Jesus’ nativity. This mola measures 15 inches across by 12 inches high.
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Molas are reverse appliques made by sewing various layers of fabric together. True molas are only made by Kuna Indians who reside in La Comarca de San Blas, Panama. The word ‘mola’ means ‘blouse’ in the Kuna language. Kuna women used to paint designs on themselves, which eventually evolved into making fabric panels for blouses from fabric with similar designs. Today, molas are used for many different purposes and come in various shapes and sizes. Many Kuna Indians tell their life stories with the creation of molas.
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  • Home
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