Bidspirit auction | Guna Mola Panel with Twin

Guna Mola Panel with Twin Bat Figures - Panama (Guna Yala), Circa 1970s 16 × 18 inches A striking mola panel worked in 3 layers with reverse appliqué, appliqué, and embroidery depicting two stacked bat figures (murciélago) with outstretched wings, humanoid faces with pointed ears and bared teeth, and heart pendants at the chest. The composition is framed by text bands reading ”MURCIELAGO” (meaning Bat) and ”MURCIEL MUTIKIT” in the lower register, with ”SOCHE MUTIKIT” and ”ZOCHE MNT IKIT” flanking each figure — the Spanish and Guna (Dulegaya) names for the bat rendered together. The word ”USIL” appears at upper right. A Greek key border runs along the top edge. As characteristic of Guna textile tradition, the lettering is rendered from memory with variations in form, spacing, and color, reflecting the maker's visual interpretation of bilingual vocabulary associated with this culturally significant creature. The bat holds deep importance in Guna cosmology and oral tradition. Worked on brilliant red cotton ground with layers in black, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, and pink. Fine hand-stitching throughout with consistent stitch density. Dense, fully filled composition with sophisticated cutwork featuring complex curves around the figural wings, nested forms in the letter panels, and embroidered fill details including dot patterns and parallel hash marks across the background field. Strong bilateral symmetry with precise compositional control across both figures. Single panel on red cotton ground with black reverse. This piece demonstrates the Guna practice of documenting natural history through bilingual labeling within traditional textile art, combining zoological subject matter with spiritual iconography. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection