Mola

Museum number:
3-30177
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21030030177
Alternate number:
MVC-0004 (previous number (MVC number, Mossman-Vitale collection))
Accession number:
Acc.4734
Description:
Mola blouse. Blouse; Yoke; 3.9 cm x 8.5 cm synthetic yellow fabric with dark red band trim below neckband 2.5 cm . w. w/ black edge .3 cm. ;band etxends across upper yoke but is interrupted by 6 cm pleated area on the yolk (both sides)purple cotton neck band 1.8 cm encases a gathering cord; at bottom of yoke; red cotton band 1.7cm h. w/ green mahine made ; black adn yellow narrow under the red band,aout .5. cm w. Sleeves; yellow synthetic fabric 16 cm l. x 20.5 w, tapering and pleated into a black cotton band 1.5 cm w. w/ red machine made rick rack centered and narrow green cotton band .4 cm. 10.5 cm w. at sleeve opening at cuff. Black commercial rick rack delineates line between sleeve and yoke. Mola (back) 3 layers w/ additional piecing 43.2 cm w .x 37 cm. l. Bottom edge encased in 2.7 cm. w. yellow cotton fabric ;3 layers; black is bottom layer pieced center layer (green, yellow, purple, orange, blue, white, pinkand severa l printed pieces), dark red top layer, all cotton; central mofif ,very large lizard (?) w/ v shapes; smaller bird attached or riding on its back; some crude embroidery on heads, tail, and wings of animals. Animals surrounded by abstract appliqued forms, including 5 maltese crosses, and letter-like (?) shapes . Front mola; lizard type animal w/ bird atop it surrounded by maltese crosses in squares and other irregular shaped appliques; multi-colored crude stitching on animal faces; swastika shape on bird tail.
Donor:
Kathleen Vitale and Paul Vitale
Collection place:
San Blas Islands, Panama
Verbatim coll. place:
Latin America; Panama; San Blas Islands; Cuna
Culture or time period:
Kuna
Collector:
Rachel Gould Mossman
Collection date:
1967
Materials:
Cotton (textile) and Synthetic
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Embroidery (visual works) and Molas
Function:
2.1 Daily Garb
Accession date:
June 23, 2006
Context of use:
worn by women; trade item
Department:
Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean area
Images:
Hearst Museum object titled Mola, accession number 3-30177, described as Mola blouse. Blouse; Yoke; 3.9 cm x 8.5 cm synthetic yellow fabric with dark red band trim below neckband 2.5 cm . w. w/ black edge .3 cm. ;band etxends across upper yoke but is interrupted by 6 cm pleated area on the yolk (both sides)purple cotton neck band 1.8 cm encases a gathering cord; at bottom of yoke; red cotton band 1.7cm h. w/ green mahine made ; black adn yellow narrow under the red band,aout .5. cm w. Sleeves; yellow synthetic fabric 16 cm l. x 20.5 w, tapering and pleated into a black cotton band 1.5 cm w. w/ red machine made rick rack centered and narrow green cotton band .4 cm. 10.5 cm w. at sleeve opening at cuff. Black commercial rick rack delineates line between sleeve and yoke. Mola (back) 3 layers w/ additional piecing 43.2 cm w .x 37 cm. l. Bottom edge encased in 2.7 cm. w. yellow cotton fabric ;3 layers; black is bottom layer pieced center layer (green, yellow, purple, orange, blue, white, pinkand severa l printed pieces), dark red top layer, all cotton; central mofif ,very large lizard (?) w/ v shapes; smaller bird attached or riding on its back; some crude embroidery on heads, tail, and wings of animals. Animals surrounded by abstract appliqued forms, including 5 maltese crosses, and letter-like (?) shapes . Front mola; lizard type animal w/ bird atop it surrounded by maltese crosses in squares and other irregular shaped appliques; multi-colored crude stitching on animal faces; swastika shape on bird tail.

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