Bidspirit auction | Guna Mola Panel Thunderbird

Guna Mola Panel Thunderbird - Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1960s 16 x 17.5 inches Reverse appliqué and appliqué mola panel with hand embroidery, featuring a powerful thunderbird or great bird spirit with dramatically outstretched wings beneath the inscription ”AVE TI TERA”. The central bird displays a white circular breast medallion and striped plumage, flanked by smaller fish forms and geometric corner elements. The composition is surrounded by a dense field of multicolored sawtooth stitching creating a vibrant radiating pattern. Worked in three layers of cotton in red, black and yellow, with extensive top-applique and hand-embroidered details in yellow, green, blue, white, orange, and purple. The bird's wings span nearly the full width of the panel, demonstrating exceptional design ambition and technical skill. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection.