Pair of Moor's Heads in Caltagirone Ceramic 14cm
Pair of Sicilian Moorish Heads in Caltagirone Ceramic, entirely handmade and decorated by master artisans from Sicily. Height 14 cm. The Moorish heads depict a man and a woman, protagonists of a legend that has captivated admirers of history and Sicilian culture for almost a thousand years. The legend tells of a girl, who lived in the early 12th century AD, beautiful and dedicated to tending her plants on the balcony of her house in Palermo, in the Kalsa district, falling madly in love with a Moorish soldier, who was also swept away by passion for the beautiful woman. According to one version of the legend, the girl was deceived by the soldier: he was actually married and had children, and was ready to abandon her to return to his homeland. The discovery of this treachery prompted the girl to kill her lover in his sleep, decapitate him, and use his head as a vase for basil, which she then proudly displayed on her balcony. Also according to the tragic legend, the basil was so lush that it aroused the envy of all the neighbors, who began to commission artisans to make head-shaped vases, which are the current Moorish heads (also called Turkish Heads by some), symbols of passion and love that must not be betrayed. Colors and shades may differ slightly from the photo. As these are 100% handmade products, any imperfections are part of the manufacturing process and attest to the originality of the products.