The molas on this page depict Kuna Culture, Traditions and Lore.

All of these have already been sold and are here for you to enjoy. If you are interested in any of these, let me know because I may still have the pair. If not, I can always try to get it for you.

Thanks for looking!

Click on each image for details and see scans for more accurate colors. (These are too bright).

Bonigana ~ Curing Ritual Mola

This is an interesting pair of cultural molas that show a the Bonigani eating away at the spirit or purba of a person and the Medicine Man or "Ina Duled" or Nele that cure the malady.

According to the Kuna beliefs, all types of illnesses are caused by "boni" a type of spirits that cause disease. They believe that all sickness, wounds, infections, fevers, headaches, broken bones etc... are physical manifestations that their "purba" or spirit has been captured by the boni or bonigana (plural).

With the aid of chants, herbs, nuchus or wooden statues that have been prayed over, the medicine men cure the victims by recovering the sick persons's captured "purba".

There are three types of healers: the neles or shamans that are born with these powers, the Ina Duled or Medicine Man and the Igar Wisid or Chanters. Women can be either Neles (if they are born with the powers) or Ina Duleds. The Igar Wisids are men only.

The top mola shows a person whose spirit or "purba" has been captured. The little animal-like creatures represent the bonigana biting on the captured spirit.

The bottom mola shows the medicine man with herbs on his head and two braziers or clay pots (sianalas) where the peppers, cacao seeds, herbs, roots or whatever was used to perform the cure. It is quite obvious that the ritual was successful as the "boni" have transformed and have released the spirit of the sick person.

The molas are excellently made in the reverse applique technique. The workmanship is of superior quality: the stitches are very small and close together, the mola is nicely finished on the back, small cut out squares enhance the design. They are made from three main layers of fabric: orange, maroon and a bright blue bottom fabric. The Kuna artist inserted smaller swatches of fabric in different colors to complete her design.

These molas are approximately 8 years old and were proudly worn on the blouse of the Kuna artist that made them. They are in excellent condition. The colors are still bright, no rips, or tears, or stains. They are better than what the digital images show.

Dimensions: 20-1/2" x 13-1/2" (approx.)

Price: $53.00 each or $90.00 for the pair Sold

Medicinal Plant Molas

This pair of molas depicts an interesting aspect of Kuna culture. They represent medicinal plants and show the spirits associated with the healing rituals.

In the center of the top mola are the spirits of the maladys. These evil spirits are called poni's or boni's. The plural, as is in the case of the mola, is bonigani. For the Kunas all sickenesses, headaches, and other diseases are caused by these purbas or spirits. Medicinal plants are used for the cure as well as for other purposes. Sometimes they are rubbed on the eyes to enhance their mola making skills.

In the center of the bottom mola is a human-like creature that, according to the Kuna that sold it to me, is the Medicine man or Ina Duled. This is the person that deals directly with the medicinal plants and knows which plant is used for each malady.

Both molas are exceptionally well made. The stitching is very tiny and the even. It is very neat on both the front and the back of the molas. They were made using the reverse applique technique and have little cut out triangles and "v's" as well as the intricate suidi - suidi (sawtooth stitch) surrounding the mola. The mola maker added touches of embroidery on the faces and the hair of the Medicine Man to enhance her creation. Little colored triangles in many colors fill the background and add liveliness to the molas.

They are approximately five years old and in excellent condition. They were the front and back panels of a blouse and were worn by the Kuna woman that made them.

Dimensions: 17" x 13-1/4"

Price for the pair: $70.00 SOLD

Trader Boats Mola Pair

Two very well made molas that depict the trader boats so often seen in the waters of the Caribbean docked at the various islands of San Blas. For many years the Kunas have traded with the crew of the colombian trader boats. For many years the fabric, thread scissors and other mola accessories were obtained from them. The Kuna indians in turn traded coconuts, sugar cane and other fruit grown on the islands.

Lots of nice details. The background is filled with the tiny colored triangles and the boats are outlined in the very intricate suida-suida (sawtooth) stitch. The sails have the vertical cut outs. The mola maker has added "waves" to show that these two boats are at sea.

It is very nicely stitched. The molas have been worn on a blouse and they are nice and soft from the use.

Made from three full layers of fabric: Maroon - Black -Orange.

Each measures: 16"x 13-1/4"

SOLD

(This is similar to a pair that I sold last year. )

Extraordinary Kuna Fables Mola Pair

According to the Kuna woman that sold me this exquisite pair of molas, they were inspired by Kuna myths and legends.

The top mola shows a bird, probably some sort of an eagle, that has caught a snake. The snake represents evil and the bird represents a good spirit or purba that the Nele or shaman invoke. The bird has caught the snake and goodness or peace will be restored to the community.

The bottom mola is more of a fable or story that is told to small children. It refers to a mother fish that encounters another fish and asks him to please watch her young while she goes out to swim in the large ocean. The mother was away for a while and when she came back she found that the fish was actually a buzzard and that the buzzard had eaten the children. I guess the teaching is to beware of stranges.

The molas are Collector's Quality, they are excellently made. The fabric is nice and heavy. The stitching is tiny and even and the lines are narrow. They are very colorful. The Kuna artist used a variety of stitches including the cut out circles on the bottom mola, nice applications, the sawtooth stitch surrounds the main design. She used little colored triangles for the background. The top layer is maroon, the middle layer is Black and the bottom layer is bright blue.

The molas are approximately 12 - 15 years old and in excellent condition.

Dimensions: 18-1/2" x 15-3/4"

Tad Ibe Mor (Dad Ibe) Mola

This mola portrays the "Sun Man" Tad Ibe that is a Kuna legend. He was one of the good and wise men that were sent to earth to cleanse the world of the spirits of the evil animal-men that were plaguing the earth and leading the Kuna people to a life of vices and crimes. Tad Ibe sent these evil spirts (boni) to the underlayers of the universe where they live in the Kalus or in the Whirlpools.

The image to the left is Tad Ibe and the image to the right is one of the evil animal-men.

The mola is nicely made. It has lots of colors and very small and even stitches. It has pretty applications and nice touches of embroidery for detail. The Kuna artist used a greek-key pattern as a background filler.

It is about 8 years old. Slightly but nicely faded. No rips or stains.

An excellent addition to your Kuna Mola collection.

Dimensions: 17-1/2" x 13"

Sianala (Brazier) Mola Pair

This is a wonderful pair of molas that represent the braziers or clay pots where incense, peppers, cocoa and other plants and herbs are burned during the many Kuna rituals. The Kuna artist decorated the "sianalas" or pots with little animals probably inspired by the motifs on the clay Pre-Colombian pots found in the area of Cocle, Veraguas or Chiriqui. (mainland). The little animals represent the "purba" or spirits. The top mola show the "good purba" and the bottom mola shows the "bonigana" or bad spirits that cause illness, and just about any other malady including hurricanes, earthquakes etc..

The molas a beautifully made in the reverse applique technique and adorned with lots of nice embroidery details. The workmanship is excellent. The stitches are very very tiny and close together and the spaces are narrow and even. Little colored applications also enhance the molas and vertical cuts "tas-tas" were used as a background filler.

The molas are approximately 5 years old and in excellent condition.

Dimensions: 16" x 12"

Kuna Fiesta Mola Pair

This is a very interesting pair of molas. The Kuna woman that sold these to me said that she didn't know the story behind them so I'm not sure what they represent. You are welcome to give them your own interpretation. I will proceed with mine!

To me it seems like the first mola is a "fiesta" or party. We see a Kuna woman with her arms above her head, she seems to be clapping or dancing to the music of the stringed instrument being played by the man. Two other Tule (or Kuna folk) are waving something in their hands and seem like they are dancing as well. The setting is very beautiful, they are surrounded by fantastic trees, maybe palm trees that are common in Kuna Yala. They look very similar to the picture-writing that the Kuna chanters use to help them memorize their chants.

On the bottom mola is another scene of the same party. The trees are swaying, we know that it is Kuna territory because of the "swastica-like" symbol on the trees. This is the Kuna emblem that appears on the Kuna flag (it has absolutely nothing to do with Nazis or Hitler.)

In the bottom mola we have a centaur, part man and part animal, commonly known in Greek mythology. Drinking and having fun was their main goal in life. There is another person that seems to be waving a cross, so the mola has some sort of religious undertones.

It is interesting how the Kuna mythology blends in perfectly with the idea of the centaur. They have their own part animals-part men that were also the origin of all vices.

These are two EXCELLENT molas. Very well made, superb stitching and a magnificient conversation piece.

Dimensions: 17" x 12-3/4"

Kuna Earrings Mola

This is a spectacular mola. It shows a pair of earrings that are a part of the Kuna woman's attire. Each earring has a bird on it and I don't know if the birds are meant to be part of the earrings or if they have some other meaning. The letters WETYO are on the top and I don't know what they signify, if anything at all, as the Kunas will often use letters as space fillers. Other figures... birds & people... were also used to fill space.

The mola is exquisitely made in the reverse applique technique. The stitching is top quality. Very minute and even. The workmanship is very neat on both the front and the back of the mola.

Dimensions: 16-1/2" x 13"

SOLD

" Orbirib Mor" ~ Chestplate Mola

This highly detailed mola in the form of a "double eagle" represents the chestplate that the Kuna Women wear particularly for very special events such as the "Inna" festivals, puberty rituals, wedding ceremonies etc... Eagles with large wings are often used to symbolize power.

The mola is very nicely stitched in the reverse applique technique. It has neat and even stitches and is enhanced in beautiful embroidery. The word "Orbirib" - and Escudo are embroidered on the mola. It has three layers of fabric, the bottom is a black synthetic but this does not detract from the design. It is an excellent example of the Kuna Culture and Traditions.

The mola was worn on the Kuna mola-maker's blouse and is in excellent condition. Approx. 7 years old. The colors are brighter than what they appear to be on the digital image.

Dimensions: 16-3/4" x 13-1/4"

SOLD

Nele - Ina Duled Mola

This is an interesting pair of cultural molas that show a Medicine Man or "Ina Duled" and the Bonigana (spirits that cause illness).

According to the Kuna beliefs, all types of illnesses are caused by "boni" a type of spirits that cause disease. They believe that all sickness, wounds, infections, fevers, headaches, broken bones etc... are physical manifestations that their "purba" or spirit has been captured by the boni or bonigana (plural).

With the aid of chants, herbs, nuchus or wooden statues that have been prayed over, the medicine men cure the victims by recovering the sick persons's captured "purba".

There are three types of healers: the neles or shamans that are born with these powers, the Ina Duled or Medicine Man and the Igar Wisid or Chanters. Women can be either Neles (if they are born with the powers) or Ina Duleds. The Igar Wisids are men only.

The top mola shows one of these, probably a medicine man as he is depicted with some type of plant behind his head and the purba or spirits some of which are captured by the boni and others that are free. The bottom mola shows the boni or evil spirit (at the bottom of the mola) and the "purbas": three captured and two free.

The molas are nicely made from three main layers of fabric: orange, black and a Khaki colored synthetic bottom fabric. The Kuna artist inserted smaller swatches of fabric in different colors to complete her design.

These molas are approximately 10 years old and were proudly worn on the blouse of the Kuna artist that made them. They are in good condition. They are slightly faded but no rips, or tears, or stains. They hey are better than what the digital images show.

Dimensions: 18-1/2" x 14-1/4"

Please click on the images above for a better view . The reduced size does not show a good picture. Details are also shown.

Transforming Purbas (Spirits) Mola Pair

This is a very unusual pair of molas that were made by the Kuna women of the Bayano area of Panama. This "comarca" is on the mainland east of Panama City. It is believed that the Kunas that now live on the San Blas Islands (Kuna Yala) originally migrated from this area. The Kunas here basically have the same traditions with minor differences. Their molas are a bit less detailed as they do not have contact with the cruise ships thus less "tourist" influence.

For the Kunas everything has a "purba" or an alter being in the world of the spirits. The purbas readily change back and forth from people to spirits, to animals and so forth. This mola pair represents a woman transforming to the spirit world. This spirit world has eight layers or dimensions, each of which has a different significance. On the top mola the horizontal rectangles represent four of these eight layers.

On the top mola the spirit is in one stage of transformation. On the bottom mola the spirit seems to be in a more advanced stage or it may even represent another purba.

Each is made from three main layers of fabric. Maroon, Black and a synthetic Mustard color base. The mola maker has inserted many other smaller swatches of different colors between the layers resulting in a very colorful and interesting design.

Dimensions: 17-1/2" x 12-1/2"

The Teachings of Ibeorgun Mola

The Kunas say that Ibeorgun came from the river many centuries ago with his sister Kikadiryai . They had been sent by Paba and Nana (Mother and Father - the creators of the universe) to be a great "lampara" or lantern for them. Orgun and Kikadiryai taught the Kunas how to speak, how to dress, how to bathe and take care of themselves, how to speak, how to make molas (including the early designs), how to build their houses and community centers, how to care for their land, plant their crops and many other things. The teachings of Ibeorgun are passed down from generation to generation by the "Nelegans" (Neles) in the form of chants and legends.

In this very cultural mola we have Ibeorgun instructing the people. In the back are two Kunas that are building a Kuna house (possibly with bamboo rods).

The mola is about 15 years old and has been worn often by the mola maker. It is slightly faded and soft from the wear and numerous washings. I think that this makes it all the more attractive.

Three layers of cotton fabric: maroon, black and lime green. Also smaller swatches of blue, green and many other colors. The background has tiny colored triangles and it is enhanced with embroidery.

Dimensions: 18" x 13-3/4"

A very nice collectible!

Galu Mor

(Kuna Gathering House Mola)

This mola represents the gathering house where the Kunas get together for their assemblies, community meetings and where some of their ritual activities take place. The Gathering House is the main structure in all Kuna communities. From here their "laws" and traditions are communicated to the people, thus ensuring the continuation of their culture. This one is probably a "Curing House" because of the "medicinal plants" that can bee observed in the "doorway". Betwen the two "Galus" is a figure of the sun.

The mola has been taken off a blouse (the bottom part is still there but can be removed, if desired, with a sharp pair of small scissors). It has been worn often by it's maker, and is nice and soft from the washings.

Dimensions: 18-1/2" x 14"

Kuna Ritual Objects

Here we have the front and back panels of a mola blouse. They each represent objects that are used for the lavish ceremonies called "Innas" particularly the puberty rituals called "Inna Mutiki".

The top mola is a "Sianala Mor" they are braziers or clay incense pots where the Kuna burn cocoa beans and other incense. They also use these during the curing rituals. In each one of the braziers there are 8 little squares that may well represent the beans or peppers.

The bottom mola represents the pots where the chicha is mixed for the Inna Mutiki. The chicha is a corn based drink that is mixed and chanted over by a ritual specialist. It is later transfered to small ceramic jars where it is fermented to be consumed at the feast. The feast begins when the chicha is ready and the feast is over when the chicha is consumed.

These molas are in excellent condition. Exquisite details and fine workmanship.

Dimensions: 16-1/2" x 12"

SOLD

Moon Dreamer Mola Pair

This outstanding pair of molas represent a style known as "pabgan igar molakana", or molas that have been created from oral tradition or legends. According to the young Kuna lady that sold me these molas, they refer to a Kuna legend about the daughter of "Ni", the Moon. In the first one we see her asleep in the heavens. She dreams of a multicolored rainbow with stars.

On the bottom mola Ni's daughter is with three young female spirits. Everyday they would go to earth and do the housekeeping for three young Kuna (tule) brothers while they were hunting and fishing. They lived alone because their parents had died. Everyday they would come back and find that their messy house was neat and clean but they had no idea who it was that was cleaning for them. One day they stayed behind to see who came in during the day and cleaned. They saw the three young ladies. When the spirits saw the brothers they ran because if they were touched by a human being they would not be able to return to the heavens (the fourth layer above the earth). The youngest one was caught and had to stay behind. She married the youngest, and taught them and the other Kunas how to clean their homes.

These molas were made last year and were made to be worn on a blouse. The young lady told me that she had worn them but to me it doesn't seem like they have been worn. I don't see any signs of stitching on the mola panels, but it could be because of how they were cut off the blouse. At any rate they are in excellent - mint condition. Beautifully sewn and extremely colorful.

Made from three layers of fabric. The bottom or base layer is a neon orange synthetic fabric that the Kunas have been using a lot recently. They are very well made, tiny stitches, very neat, narrow lines and a lot of different stiches have been used.

Demon (Nia) Mola

Demons, Ponis and other evil spirits abound in Kuna cosmology so it is no wonder that "Nias" (demons) are a popular motif with the mola makers. The Kuna believe that just about any animal can transform itself into a demon and vice versa. This oversized mola is another fine example of Kuna culture. It shows a nicely detailed demon with wings indicating that it has metamorphosed from a butterfly.

"Nia butterflies are the masters of this place. The nias, lords of this place, take the appearance of butterflies... " from the Way of the Demon Chant (M. Perrin p. 71)

The mola measures 19"x 14-1/2" and has been worn often. It is faded from the washings and the San Blas sun, but nevertheless a great collectible. It is made from two main layers of fabric: maroon and black and has many other smaller swatches of fabric in between that add nice colors to the mola.

SOLD

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