Bidspirit auction | Moorish Head

Moorish Head - Sicilian Moorish head with Baroque decorations on the turban and lemon appliqués, entirely handmade by Sicilian master craftsmen from Santo Stefano di Camastra. A unique and one-of-a-kind pair. Head height 38 cm. The Moor's 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 has it that a beautiful young woman, who lived in the early 12th century AD, devoted herself to tending her plants on the balcony of her house in Palermo's Kalsa district. She fell madly in love with a Moorish soldier, who was also overwhelmed by his passion for the beautiful woman. According to one version of the legend, the girl was deceived by the soldier: in reality, he was married with children, and ready to abandon her to return to his homeland. Discovering this tradition drove the girl to kill her lover in his sleep, decapitate him, and use his head as a basil pot , which she then displayed prominently on her balcony. According to the tragic legend, basil was so vigorous that it aroused the envy of all the neighbors, who began having artisans create vases in the shape of heads , known today as Moor's heads (also called Turks' Heads by some), a 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 disapproved of their love affair, and their texts were put on display as a warning against illicit unions. From this story, the depiction of paired Moorish heads is a symbol of passion and love that transcends time. Fired at 950°. Fire-stamped signature and guarantee certificate.