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Alessia a Ciaramuntana

Shawls Cotton
Single artwork

150,00

Description by the artist

Here is Alessia, a Ciaramuntana (Sicilian for Alessia of Chiaramonte Gulfi) “ca cugghie alive a Paraspola” (Sicilian for who picks up olives in the district Paraspola).  Knitted  with cotton yarns, here presented in a new, elegant white version.

Details and dimensions

Materials: Cotton
Dimensions (cm): Height 140, Width 205
Handcrafted in Sicily

The artwork in the Sicilian culture

By the Governance of Sicilian Artisan Foundation

The Sicilian shawl represents a real icon of our popular costume. Simple in its usually triangular shape, the shawl also recalls the divine triad of Catholicism. Its use, in fact, is particularly linked to religious ceremonies, giving off a strong votive nature. But, above all, here in Sicily the shawl was the symbol of amorous seal. A shawl was the gift that the mother-in-law brought on the day of the official engagement, at least until the first half of the last century. A shawl whose material it was made of was at the same time a symbol of economic position. There were woolen shawls, crocheted, and the richer the weave and the thinner the cotton, the more valuable it was.

Chiaramonte Gulfi is a beautiful village, with a strong Sicilian imprint, 700 meters above sea level in the southern part of Sicily. From different areas of the village you can enjoy an exceptional view that reaches the sea. There are several museums to visit. In its countryside abound millenary olive trees, called Saracen olive trees (famous are those of contrada Paraspola).

(photo) Sicilian women crocheting

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