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Moro Heads
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Moro Heads
The Moro History
Around 1100 A.D., during the Moors domination
in Sicily, a beautiful Italian girl lived in seclusion,
spending her days tending flowers on her balcony.
One day, a young Moor passing by was captivated by
her beauty and boldly entered her home to confess his
love. Experiencing the power of love and desire for the
first time, the girl was mesmerized and returned his
affections, believing his promises of eternal devotion.
However, she soon discovered his betrayal: he intended
to return to his homeland, to his wife and children.
Heartbroken, with her dreams shattered and her
reputation ruined, she was consumed by rage. That
night, as he slept, she took her revenge by cutting off
his head. The next morning, a new vase appeared on
her balcony—a strikingly lifelike Moor’s head, filled with
flowers.
Enchanted by its beauty, her neighbors, envious and
intrigued, began crafting vases in the same shape. Till
this day, these finely adorned “Teste di Moro” can be
admired on Sicilian balconies—a timeless symbol and a
clever warning to all men.
The Moro Heads embody the rich tradition of
Sicilian ceramics, encapsulating nearly 1,000 years
of stylistic evolution. These anthropomorphic
masterpieces are crafted with strikingly realistic
details, featuring colors and finishes executed with
meticulous precision. Each Moro Head by Verus
begins as a unique, hand-modeled masterpiece,
which then serves as the basis for exclusive plaster
casts. The clay is carefully hand-pressed into
these molds, ensuring that every piece replicates
the elegant features of the original model with
exceptional precision.
Every decoration, application, and detail is
meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans
trained in the renowned schools of Caltagirone.
This expertise is particularly evident in the intricate
acanthus leaves adorning each head and the delicate
modeling of slip slurry to create mustaches, beards,
and eyebrows. Vibrant colors, gold or platinum
finishes, antique effects, and crackle glazes are just
some of the technical elements that lend the Moro
Heads by Verus for Abhika their unmistakable allure.
