What makes a mola valuable?
Crossroads Trade molas are priced by quality. The more expensive molas reflect more complexity, outstanding craftswomanship and fine design. We’ve also made a difference by providing reading glasses to the women. The older women are thrilled to be able to continue their work.
Why do Kuna people make molas?
Mola means cloth or clothing in the Kuna language. These panels of stacked cloth are used to make women’s blouses. Girls learn to make these at an early age and can spend up to 100 hours making one Mola! Traditional designs include animals, geometric patterns, and scenes from everyday life.
What is the most traditional type of mola Why?
Geometric molas are the most traditional, having developed from ancient body painting designs. Many hours of careful sewing are required to create a fine mola. The ability to make an outstanding mola is a source of status among Kuna women. general artistic merit of the design and color combination.
What does mola mean in Kuna?
to cover
Mola, the Kuna word meaning “to cover” are hand-sewn, embroidered blouse fronts and backs made and worn by Kuna women. Mola blouse-front designs evolved from body painting, which, in the late nineteenth century, was discouraged by colonial law.
Why is each mola different?
Molas vary greatly in quality, and the pricing to buyers varies accordingly. A greater number of layers is generally a sign of higher quality; two-layer molas are common, but examples with four or more layers will demand a better price.
What is the purpose of selling molas?
The traditional purpose of molas was to decorate functional items of clothing. Today, the Kuna sell molas to tourists as a way to earn money.
What is the origin of molas?
Molas, a traditional textile craft, are made from layers of colored fabric that are stitched and cut using applique techniques to create patterns and pictures. They originated in Panama, with the women of the Kuna tribe in the San Blas islands.
What mola designs are most popular?
The most popular mola designs include birds, fish, animals, flowers, and plants, but artisans also incorporate images from everyday life, including commercial logos, buildings, boats, vehicles, and household objects.
What is mola traditionally used for?
Molas were originally used as part of the women’s blouses. Molas are traditionally made and worn by the Kuna women and girls in pairs to serve as front and back panels of the blouses they wear everyday. Nowadays they are also sold to collectors and framed and exhibited.
What colors are molas?
Each mola consists of two to seven layers of cotton cloth in the dominant colors of red, black, and orange. Pieces of the top layers are cut out, folded back, and hand-stitched down to expose the underlying colors.
What indigenous group makes the molas?
Purchases made directly from Kuna women, and sometimes Kuna men, provide authenticity to the acquisition of a mola. Regardless of whether there is an understanding that the mola panel originated as part of a blouse, the perceived value of the mola is increased because it was sewn by an indigenous woman.
Where do molas have their origin?
What kind of art are molas?
Molas, a traditional textile craft, are made from layers of colored fabric that are stitched and cut using applique techniques to create patterns and pictures. They originated in Panama, with the women of the Kuna tribe in the San Blas islands. But they have fans worldwide.
What country are molas from?
What is the origin of mola?
What are traditional molas made from?
Construction. Molas are hand-made using a reverse appliqué technique. Several layers (usually two to seven) of different-colored cloth (usually cotton) are sewn together; the design is then formed by cutting away parts of each layer. The edges of the layers are then turned under and sewn down.
What are Kuna Molas?
In Panama, the Kuna tribe has been creating Molas for centuries. Kuna Molas are a form of fabric art work that originated as clothing, but today it is largely sold as panels that can be used as wall decor.
What is a Mola?
In the Kuna language, the word Mola quite literally means shirt — and this form of art work was originally clothing. When worn as clothing, two Molas are used as panels on the front and back of a traditional Kuna blouse. The brightly-colored panels are often decorated with intricate needlework, many of which feature Panamanian tribal symbols.
What are Mola panels in San Blas Island?
Most Mola panels that are available for purchase in San Blas Island are not clothing items, however. They are simply sold as two-panel sets that can be used as wall art, pillowcases, placemats and more. The story of the Panamanian Molas began centuries ago.
How do I choose a Mola?
The selection of a Mola is very personal, as it may reflect the things you love or the way that you feel. Most Mola panels that are available for purchase in San Blas Island are not clothing items, however. They are simply sold as two-panel sets that can be used as wall art, pillowcases, placemats and more.