Moor's Heads Ceramic

Caltagirone Moor heads with fruit on the turban made and decorated entirely by hand by Sicilian master craftsmen.

Height 19 cm.

The Moro heads depict a man and a woman, protagonists of a legend that has enchanted admirers of Sicilian history and culture for almost a thousand years.

Legend tells of a girl, who lived at the beginning of 1100 AD, beautiful and dedicated to the care of her plants on the balcony of her house in Palermo, in the Kalsa district, who fell madly in love with a Moro soldier, who was also overwhelmed by the passion for pretty Woman.

According to one version of the legend, the girl was deceived by the soldier: in reality he was married and had children, as well as ready to abandon her to return to his homeland. The discovery of this tradition pushed the girl to kill her lover in his sleep, behead him and use his head as a vase for basil, which was then put on display on the balcony of the house. Again according to the tragic legend, the basil was so rigorous that it aroused the envy of all the neighbors, who began to have artisans make head-shaped vases , i.e. the current Moor's heads (also called Turks' Heads by some), symbol of passion and love that must not be betrayed.         

According to another version of the legend, the two lovers were both killed and beheaded by her family, who did not approve of their romance, and their texts were put on display as monitors against illicit unions. From this story, the depiction of dark brown heads as a couple is a symbol of passion and love that surpasses time.    

Cooking at 950°. Fire signature and guarantee certificate.