Many people are now collecting molas. Besides their intrinsic beauty, molas may be collected as an artistic investment.

"Mola" actually means blouse in the Kuna language. There is a front and back panel, which are usually almost identical. Both panels will carry the same theme, but each is created individually, and may have small variances.

When evaluating a mola for collection, the main points to take into consideration are design, balance, color, and craftsmanship. The balance in the design is important, since it adds much to the overall impression. Additionally, the combination of colors also should be balanced.

Two to seven layers of cloth, traditionally light-weight cotton, can be used in a mola. The use of three or more layers usually signifies an above-average mola.

A quality mola leaves one unaware of the needlework. The thread, not too heavy, exactly matches the fabric.

The cut-out areas should not be too wide in an above-average mola. Cigar-shaped slots are usually 1/8 inch, as wider slots are considered poorer quality work.

The traditional colors used in collectible molas are dark red, orange, and black. These colors are normally selected as either a foreground or background. All other colors that are used in the mola are for accent and are at the artist's choice. A faded color indicates that the artist was proud of her mola, and she wore it often.

Click photos to enlarge.

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