The molas on this page have all been sold. They are here for your enjoyment. If you are interested in obtaining a mola of a similar design, let me know and I will be happy to check in my collection to see if one is available. If not, I can try to get one for you.

The molas on this page are 15 years old or newer. All have been used as panels on Kuna women's blouses.

Exquisite Crabs Mola Pair

These outstanding molas were made by a very accomplished young Kuna lady. All of her work that I've seen is absolutely outstanding. These two crabs are no exception. The molas are not large as she is a very petite young lady.

The Crabs or "Centollas" from the San Blas Islands are very large and served at the better restaurants in Panama City. Crab fishing is a major source of income for the Kunas.

The molas were sewn using the reverse applique technique that is unique to the Kuna Indians of Kuna Yala (San Blas), Panama. She has used a nice variety of stitches that include the sawtooth stitch, tiny cut out sqaures, some embroidery for details, particularly on the crab's claws and legs. For a background filler she used the vertical cuts, or das-das which gives the mola a lot of color.

They each measure: 15-1/4" x 13"

Sold

Yokor Mor

"Knees" Mola

This mola is certainly one of the classics. It is an old "sergan" design that represents knees. It is a must have for any serious mola collector. Another interpretation that is sometimes given to this mola is that it evokes the geneolical chain. Grandparents - Grandchildren. This mola is superbly made. The stitching is extremely neat and the vertical cutouts are thin and even. It is really beautiful. In the scan I have not been able to capture the contrast between the red and the orange. (These two colors often blend into each other when they are side by side). The mola was once worn on a blouse and is in mint condition.

Dimensions: 16-1/2" x 13"

SOLD

"Nu Kabakewat Mor"

4 Birds Mola

This is another one of the Classical design molas, or "Sergan" designs that was created many years ago and passed down from generation to generation. This mola of four birds in flight is of extraordinary quality. The stitches are very small and even. The "lines" are thin. It is a very colorful and a "favorite" among the serious mola collectors. About 10 years old and was worn by the Kuna mola maker on her blouse.

Dimensions: 17" x 13-1/2"

SOLD

"Sur Mor"

Tiny Monkeys Mola

For the Kunas monkeys represent joviality and fun. This is a magnificent mola that has four sets of six pairs of monkeys!! These very tiny monkeys form a geometric design while they sit facing one another. The mola is very well made and it has taken the mola maker many hours of fine work to complete this wonderful design. It is an adaptation of an old sergan design.

Dimensions: 17" x 11-1/2"

SOLD

Rooster Mola "Kanner Mor

This "extraordinary" rooster was once worn with pride by the Kuna woman that made this wonderful piece of folk art. The mola is very well made with very tiny stitche.s The rooster is enhanced with beautiful embroidery stitches on it's feathers and crest and colorful circles further adorn his body. For the background the mola-maker used the vertical "das-das" stitches in a multitude of colors. Lovely flowers further enhance the mola. The mola is about 5 years old and looks new. The bottom layer was part of the blouse.

Dimensions: 15-1/2 x 13-1/4

SOLD

Click on the image for a large view.)

"Sigu Mor" Arrows Mola

This is a magnificent abstract molas that represents arrows, used many years ago by the Kunas for hunting as well as other cultural activities.

The design is an older sergan desgin (of the grandmothers) and the mola is superbly made. It has four large arrows and a smaller one in the center. The Stars at the top and on the bottom as well as the tiny triangles have been used by the mola-maker as a background filler.

This oversized mola measures 18" x 13-1/2". The Kuna woman that made this mola made it for herself and wore it often on her blouse. The mola is over 10 years old, but is not faded and is in excellent condition.

Price: SOLD

Lobster Mola

This is an older mola, about 10 - 12 years old. It has been worn many times by it's maker. It shows a very intricate lobster among sea plants. The mola maker has represented this one with all of the details including the little hairs on the antennae aand legs. The way that she has represented the scales on the lobster's tail is also quite remarkable. The background of the mola has the tiny triangles in many colors that give liveliness to the design. The central figure is outlined in the difficult sawtooth stitch, representing many many hours of high quality work.

The mola is slightly faded, the colors have bled on the lobster's eyes, but it does not detract from the design but gives a testimony of the use of the mola and its numerous washings.

Dimensions: 15" x 13-1/4"

Price SOLD

Abstract Lantern Mola

This mola is a very traditional abstract Kuna design that portrays a lantern and it's light rays viewed from above. This beautiful mola, made with much care, must have been one of Analida's favorites because it is nicely faded and soft from the wear.

This is a very intricate and superbly made mola. The stitches are tiny and even. The reverse of the mola is a work of art in itself! The mola maker has used hundreds of tiny colored triangles as a background filler.

(The white on the right botton corner of the image is from the scan , not on the mola).

Dimensions: 17" x 13"

Price:SOLD

Abstract Design Mola

This is a very colorful mola of a very interesting abstract design. The design is at least 50 years old even though this mola was made 10 years ago. I don't know what it represents but it is certainly well done.

The mola is very nicely made using the reverse applique technique that is unique to the Kuna Indians of Panama. It has four layers of cotton fabric.Orange, Maroon, Yellow & Maroon.

Dimensions: 16" x 12-1/2"

Price: SOLD

Note: The blur is because of the scan

These are outstanding molas that portray a pair of wild birds, probably wild turkeys, that are surrounded by plant life. The details are very intricate and the stitches are very tiny. "Mucho Trabajo" the Kuna lady (Luz) said. In the front panel the birds are facing each other. In the back panel the birds are facing away fron each other and seem to be perched on branches..

The bird's bodies have tiny black triangles in the center of a larger triangle made from the fabric from which each bird is stitched. The plants all have nice embroidery details and the mola maker has used hundered of multi-colored triangles as a background filler. The designs are surrounded by colored fabrics that are cut using the saw-tooth or "dientes" stitch.

They have been worn on Luz's blouse and are in excellent condition. The molas are about 12 years old.

Dimensions: 18-1/2"x 13"

Dancers Mola

This beautiful abstract mola design is that of Kuna Dancers holding hands at a Kuna ritual. The other is skeletons of frogs. Take your pick as it is a very old design and has been interpreted in different ways depending on the area or island. I personally go for the dancers.

Please keep in mind that the blur in the middle is from the scan and is not a defect of the mola. The mola is in WONDERFUL condition and a great addition to a Native art collection.

The mola has four complete layers of fabric:

Orange, maroon, yellow and black.

Dimensions: 17-1/2"x 13"

(The blur is because of the scan & not a defect of the mola).

Price: $50.00

Turtles Mola

A very popular design probably from the 1920's. It shows a large turtle with a smaller one on it's back and a small turtle in each of the four corners.

Very good condition. About 8 years old.

Dimensions: 17"x 12-1/2"

Turtle Mola

Contemporary version. This design was adapted from sergan turtle design (above).