PALERMO – Coral is one of the most fascinating and precious hidden treasures of Sicily. Rare and now extremely hard to find, coral came mainly from Trapani and Sciacca. This is the “red gold” with its various shades its sensual and seducing color. Those whom were so lucky to collect it and preserve it, are today the lucky owners of a treasure…
The most renowed antiques dealers keep it very safely. Here we have a nice display or rare specimens of antique coral.
Fond as I am of antiques and art, I went strolling into a Flea Market in Palermo, to browse amongst the stalls.
Sometimes just ugly objects, seldom nice ones, more often very nice ones. However, only a few were extraordinary pieces.
I’ve seen a very few pieces falling into the category of “excellence”.
All of them were proudly displayed by the most famous and long established palermitan antiques dealers : their names are, in themselves, are a warranty of genuinity and autenthicity well beyond a face value and a “market” value.
But the most extraordinary item that the antiques market can offer to a discerning customer today is undoubtably the mediterranea coral.
Needless to say, coral is an “important” buy, thus implying substantial expenditures in order to acquire it. However this is quite normal, since this items are becoming increasingly harder to find and very much sought after.
Coral can determine extreme feelings: either you worship it or hate it altogether.
For those who worship it, the coral assumes an almosta sacred meaning: it is not by chance that so many small sculputers feature cribs,mothering images, crucifixes, angels and saints.
But not only religious subjects: coral is so versatile to be widely employed in the making of fine jewellery, along with objects of “everyday use”, such as small jewels and accessories.
The most extraordinary item made of coral I’ve come across was a letter opener, dating back to 1830, and a ring supposedly used to decorate some lady’s pony tale, dating back to 1600.
Museum pieces. they are often protected by wooden frames: small and not so small treasures and masterpieces made to become historic, cultural and artistic heritage of Sicily.
And so, not just only “antique pieces” but pieces of history and culture.
Pieces of art born in the deepest seas, brought to land by men named “corallari” and transformed into masterpieces by hands. Hands of expertise belonging to people mainly from Trapani and Sciacca.
The main features of these “miracles of nature” are definitively the intensity of color as long with the inner light showing through, able to fascinate, astonish and captivate.
Maybe corals were brought to dry land by enchanting mermaids: and even more enchanting than their inner songs.
Photos are the courtesy of Mr. Giulio Torta, Antiques Dealer in Palermo.
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