Guna Mola

This colorful textile made by the Guna people of the San Blas Islands in Panama is known as a mola.  Molas form part of a Guna woman’s traditional clothing with the brightly colored panels applied to the front and back of a blouse.  Molas are made of several layers of different colored cloth, which are cut away to form the intricate design, in this case a sea turtle.  The layers are then sewn together with nearly invisible stitches.  These textiles are the best-known representation of Kuna culture to outsiders, and to the Guna people are a symbol of ethnic pride.

Another Guna object that has been featured for Artifact of the Month is a healing doll.