Vintage Double Iron Cross Design Panama Mola

Vintage Double Iron Cross Design Mola is a hand sewn textile by a Guna (Kuna) artisan in Panama. Two crossed X shapes sit side by side in charcoal over deep red, and every channel between them is lined with tiny stitched arrows in yellow, pink and green. Each triangle steps inward toward its own center, which gives the design a strong, almost architectural rhythm. This mola measures 16.5 inches wide and 12 inches high. You could hang it in a study or office where a geometric piece suits the room.

From Jan at MolaMagic: This one responds beautifully to a black light. Switch one on after it arrives and watch the stitching light up, and you may find yourself doing it every evening.

Molas are built by stacking several layers of colored cotton, then cutting down through one layer at a time so the colors underneath show through, and turning every raw edge under and stitching it closed by hand. The technique is called reverse appliqué, and a good panel is judged by how fine the stitches are and how many layers deep the cutting goes. This one came from Guna Yala, the San Blas islands off Panama's Caribbean coast, where the designs draw on the birds, fish, plants and geometric patterns of the islands and rainforest. It is ready to frame, mount, or sew into a pillow or a quilt panel, and no two are ever alike.

MolaMagic was founded by Janet Marie Brockman with a simple but powerful mission: to help indigenous women of color in Panama share their art with the world. For over twenty years, all profits have gone right back into the artisan community, supporting education, medical care, land, tools, and daily needs. Buying a MolaMagic mola means you are part of that story too.

Width: 16.5"
Height: 12"
SKU: 22053168T