Geometric Molas
We have a grouping of five of these geometric designed molas seen here. They are about palm-sized. Can anyone please help us learn more about these designs?
Has anyone seen these designs before? Where did you see them before?
Why are they smaller? Are they supposed to be grouped together? What were they made for?
If you have any information about these designs, please share with us in the comments section!
0 Comments
Joanne E Robinson
I’m sorry I can’t help with these molas. They are certainly interesting.
I wonder if you have any huacas available for sale at the Museum.
Joanne Steiner Robinson
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ufpcmcollection
Hello Joanne,
I don’t think there are any huacas available, but you may want to visit the online store:
http://universityoffloridalibraries.merchmo.com/ to see if any other items may be of interest to you.
Thanks for your comment!
Carol Meyer
The small molas were made to be patches or coasters. I don’t recall seeing them when I first went to San Blas in 1969, so I think they were a later development. There were even smaller ones (thumb size) also used as patches or badges, could be sewn on clothes for decoration. I don’t know the meaning of the different geometric designs.
Jose Claudio
The Kuna Indians incorporated symbology from the Maya when using geometric designs. My father brought me some of these small Molas because I wanted to use them as patches on my jeans. When I attended Balboa High School we would sew Molas on to our jeans in 1975. That was the hip thing to do. Molas are unique and beautiful. Beautiful decor when framed.
Jennifer Annis Marquardt
The patches showed up on Steven’s Circle in the early 1970s. They were an extension of the mola trade for us tourists. The original molas consisted only of geometric designs. The geometric designs may not have any meaning and the animals may be entirely from the imagination of the maker. There are several books about Cuna (now Kuna) culture and molas specifically.