On our trip to Kuna Yala this year, we saw thousands of molas.  Some molas were significant to me because of their connection to history -- either the history of the Kuna people and their molas, or my own personal history within the islands.  Here are five molas from this trip and a bit of history on each one.

Sikue burba, Mamitupu, 2010.  This mola is very similar to one of the first molas ever collected by an outsider -- American Eleanor York Bell in 1909.  A rough drawing of the mola she collected is pictured in Herta Puls' book Textiles of the Kuna Indians of Panama, a copy of which is owned by a resident of Mamitupu.  This mola differs from the 1909 mola in that the human figure has birds on its shoulders.  The background is also slightly different.  I'm not sure if this mola was copied from the illustration in the Puls book, but the presence of an antique design like this illustrates the Kunas' abiding interest in sergan (grandmother) molas.



 
Village Buildings, Mamitupu, 2010.  This is another design that was collected very early in the 20th century, this one by the British adventuress Lady Richmond Brown.  The 1920 mola was included in the book The Art of Being Kuna.  Unlike the preceeding mola, this design has appeared often on Mamitupu in the past years (I collected an earlier example about 10 years ago) which leads me to believe that the design was not copied from the book but has been kept alive in the "design vocabulary" of this island. 

Geometric, Mamitupu, 2010.  Here is something completely different: I've never seen a mola like this anywhere before!  The upper layer of navy blue is unusual although the orange is very traditional.  The kueeni kueeni (little cutout dots) in the background are an often used filler in molas, but the interlocking curves (similar to the Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern) are starkly different from any mola I've seen before -- which makes me wonder if perhaps the design was based on the quilt pattern! 

Jaguar Man, Mamitupu, 2010.  This pictoral mola was made by one of the most talented mola makers on Mamitupu.  The artist is known for her original designs, vividly drawn and beautifully executed, which often depict aspects of Kuna mythology or ceremonial life.  The two creatures in this mola are nias, evil spirits that inhabit the jungle and threaten the souls of Kunas.  As far as I know, this mola is an original design by its artist.  Interestingly, we collected an earlier version of this design five years ago, created by the same maker.

Jaguar Man, Mamitupu, 2005.  The earlier version of the above mola panel.  Notice that a few details have been improved, especially in the position of the reclining nia (in this mola, it looks as though his bent leg is growing out of his arm!).  The second jaguar man, lurking behind the tree, is less distinct in this mola -- in the later version he's blessed with not just a loincloth but with breasts!