If you’ve ever taken a trip to the beautiful region of Sicily, you may have been left in awe of the beautiful pottery that adorns the island – specifical pottery in the shape of iconic heads.
Not only are these pottery pieces a big part of Sicilian culture, often found outside of houses or decorating an outdoor terrace, but they are also becoming an unexpected new trend for home decorators across the globe.
If you want to bring a bit of Mediterranean charm to your home, Sicilian Moro Heads may be the perfect accessory for you. To find out more about these ornaments, keep on reading.
What are Sicilian Moro heads
The legend of the Moorish, who is often depicted in the Sicilian Moro Heads, is an old part of a Sicilian culture that dates back to the XI century when the Moors were dominating Sicily.
So the legend says, a Moor merchant fell in love with a beautiful young girl and, everything was going perfectly until she found out that he already had a wife and kids. In a fit of jealousy, she cut off his head and used it as a vase to grow a basil plant to ensure that he could never leave her.
From that point on, Sicilians have recreated the beautiful ceramic heads with most designs featuring a Moor man and a beautiful young woman to play homage to the original legend.
Today, many artisans continue to reinterpret the typical Sicilian Moro Heads with new designs and incredible craftsmanship – which is what’s made them so popular for such a long time.
Why are they so popular?
Sicilian Moro Heads have been popular in Sicily for decades as they have become such an important part of their culture. Following on from the original legend that cemented the creation of Moro heads, the intricate designs and iconic appearance have made them so popular throughout the generations.
Although they are most popular across the region of Siciliy, Moro’s heads have also started to grow in popularity in more regions across Italy, and the rest of the world. This is large because of how attractive they look and how easily they can be used inside or outside of the home.
Moro heads can be used as vases on your terrace, just like in the original legend, or you can also find designs that can be used as ornaments in your living room or bedroom.
Modern artisans are reinventing the legend and coming up with eye-catching designs that are helping more people to bring this Mediterranean legend into their own homes, whatever their usual interior design style is.
What makes a good Moro head?
Known by many names such as “Moorish head”, “Moor head” or “Teste di Moro”, Sicilian Moro Heads are an iconic feature of any Sicilian home, but not all heads are created in Italy.
If you’re looking to add a Moro Head into your home, you don’t just want to settle on any old piece, you want to find a good-quality, traditional style that will compliment your existing furniture.
The first step when searching for Moro Heads is to look for artisans who are from Sicily. Although you can get Moro heads from many different sources, it’s always best to buy from someone who knows the culture and understands the Moor legend so they can create the most authentic work of pottery.
Many traditional artists will make Moor heads in small batches, a few times a year, so if you see this mentioned by your seller, you can be sure that you’re getting a good Moro Head.
Finally, look for heads that include colorful, intricate crowns of traditional Sicilian lemons, shells, or flowers. Not only will these look more aesthetic in your home, but will also bring even more Mediterranean charm to your home.
How much do they cost?
Each Moor Head takes over two hours to mold and 3 days to set before they can be hand-painted and glazed. This long and intensive process means that you’ll be getting a well-crafted, authentic piece but, it also means that you will need to pay a bit more for it than you would your typical vase or ornament.
On average, you can expect to pay anything from £300 to get your hands on a traditional Sicilian Moro Head. However, depending on the artist you’re buying from you can expect to pay slightly more or less.
We’d always recommend paying that bit extra to get a really beautiful piece made by a trusted and respectable artisan who’s based in Sicily.
How can I get one?
You can find plenty of different Sicilian Moro Heads by doing a quick Google search, but this will mean that you have to weed out some of the sellers who are not quite so respectable.
If you want to find a Moro Head that is guaranteed to be authentic and unique, we’d recommend looking for websites that specialize in sourcing vintage or artisan furniture.
For example, Anemone Interiors is an online decor destination that specializes in vintage and unique pieces from genuine sellers. They offer a range of Moro Heads that are designed and handmade in the city of Caltagirone, Italy. Available in a range of designs to suit your own design style, you can browse their specific pieces here.
You don’t have to go all the way to Italy to get your hands on an iconic Moro Head, you get in touch with Sicilian artisans directly and get the vases shipped over to you wherever you are in the world.
Sicilian Moro Heads: bold in design and rich history
In this article, we’ve introduced you to one of the latest design trends that are inspired by an old Sicilian legend; Sicilian Moro Heads.
Not only do these ornaments come seeped into history, but they also can add a beautiful Mediterranean touch to your home.
If you’re looking to redecorate your room or introduce some new pieces to your space, we’d love to see how you style a Sicilian Moro Head.
