Born from legend and become an icon. The Moor's Heads in Caltagirone ceramic are a symbol of Sicily recognized throughout the world; an icon of style and trend, they tell the story of man's ability to shape the earth and create emotions.
The fruit of centuries-old tradition and studied craftsmanship handed down from father to son, the idea of these prestigious works of art has its roots in an ancient legend that saw a young Moor and a beautiful Sicilian girl as the protagonists of a poignant story:
"It is said that around the year 1100 AD, during the domination of the Muslims in Sicily, also called Moors, in the Arab quarter of Palermo called “Al Hàlisah” (which means the pure or the chosen one) today known as the Kalsa quarter, there lived a beautiful girl who spent her days tending to the flowers on her balcony. One day, a young Moor, passing under the girl's balcony, noticed her while she was tending to her plants and fell madly in love with her.
He immediately declared his love to her and the beautiful girl, struck by the audacity of her suitor, returned the feeling.
Unfortunately, the young Moor was already married and had a couple of children and when the girl learned that he was leaving to return to his family in the East, she waited until nightfall and killed him in his sleep.
He cut off his head, made a “grasta” out of it, planted some fragrant basil in it, and put it on display outside the balcony.
The Moor, thus, no longer being able to "leave", remained with her forever: the plant, watered every morning with her tears, grew lush and aroused the envy of the inhabitants of the neighborhood who, not to be outdone, had terracotta vases made in the shape of a Moor's head".
The Moor's Heads are a typical ornament of the Sicilian tradition with a very high historical and artistic value. Today the Moor's Heads are true works of art , decorative and design objects that decorate and embellish outdoor spaces, such as balconies, gardens, terraces, and furnish interiors with exclusivity. Discover our exclusive collection and choose your unique piece of furniture: Moor's Heads Catalogue .
