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Kuna Mola Tradition: The Jane Gruver Collection, Jane Gruver

Molas Collection

Jane Gruver, the Mola Lady, collected these molas between 1964 and the present to document the tradition and its evolution. Jane had a keen eye for selecting works that were well executed and artistic, but also documented the world of the Kuna and their traditions. These molas were set aside by Jane and were destined as a museum collection. They are now among the holdings of the Hudson Museum and join other molas donated by Jane.

Molas are reverse applique panels made in pairs for the front and back of women’s blouses. Several layers of cloth are stacked together and …