Kuna Mola of Two Back to Back Animals

This is a Kuna Mola of Two Back to Back Animals.  Mola is a Kuna word with many meanings: fabric or cloth, shirt or upper garment, brightly decorated women's blouses, or colorful layers of fabric, cut and hand-sewn into designs.  Kuna women from San Blas Archipelago, inland Panama and western Colombia produce these wearable works of art, which were developed in the late 1800's from a tradition of body painting.  Preferred colors are red, yellow and dark blue or black.  Motifs include sea and rain forest animals, geometric designs, people engaged in daily chores, or images from commercial advertising.  This 17" by 14" mola is composed of reverse applique and applique fabric pieces in ten colors with simple embroidery in deep pink, pale pink, pale blue, deep blue, red, yellow and green on a black fabric background.  The motif is two back to back unidentified animals with bird-like mouths and three-toed feet but long tails with a rounded end.  The background is filled with layers of multi-colored fabrics, which peak through slits and are adhered to the black cloth with tiny stitches.  Exact age and place of origin are unknown.  This Kuna Mola of Two Back to Back Animals is in Like New condition.