Mola
Dateca. 1960
Mediumdyed cotton and thread
DimensionsOverall: 15 3/4 x 20 1/2 in. (40 x 52.1 cm)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number96.0014
DescriptionA complete family of manta rays is depicted in this mola. The male is on the left, with its longer tail for defense, and the female on the right, with the baby ray at the bottom. In modern Guna culture this imagery references the afterlife. When a fisherman dies, the manta rays of the afterlife transform into a boat that will take the fisherman to the places he always wanted to see while he was alive. The amount of wishes he is granted is based on the number of fish he caught in his lifetime. This story reflects the idealistic beliefs of Guna cosmology. The technical skill of this mola including the use of color and fine stiches is extraordinary.
