Bidspirit auction | Guna Mola Panel The Alligator

Guna Mola Panel The Alligator and the Monkey - Panama (Guna Yala), circa 1970s 16 x 20 inches Boldly composed reverse appliqué mola panel illustrating the traditional Guna fable of the alligator and the monkey, inscribed ”LAGARTO” and ”Y MONO” in polychrome appliquéd letters across the upper register, executed in three layers of red, black, and teal cotton with extensive appliqué and hand embroidery throughout. A large alligator dominates the composition, rendered with a curling sawtooth tail, splayed claws, and an open mouth baring white teeth. A monkey rides atop the alligator's back. The narrative scene captures the well-known Latin American folk tale in which the clever monkey outwits the alligator. The background is densely filled with polychrome linear stitching in yellow, teal, purple, white, and orange. The upper edge retains its original green fabric border with red rickrack trim. Provenance: From the Parker & Neal Collection.