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Torlo Centro Antico Antiquariato Milano Napoli

Coral

Coralium or curalium, it’s a word quoted from classic source to indicate the “corallium rubrum” of the Mediterranean. For a long time it was considered a plant, but in the first half of the XVIII century, it was discovered that it was made up by collected animals into groups tightly interdependent which secreted calcareas secretion.
In addition, that secretion created the well –known ramified structures.A legend tells that Perseo had cut off the Medusa’s head, he lied down it on the sea banks and astonished he realized that the contact between seaweeds and her blood already petrified originated the coral.Since the antiquity it has assumed “defense of the man” and superstition value in fact it has becomed an amulet against evil, fears e and nightmares. The first archaelogicals finding belong to the Neolithic age, there were made up by raw small branches and others just roughed-hew.For its “defense of the man” value, coral has become essential and privileged element for Christianity simbology: beads of rosary, crucifixes, monstrances, ornaments for Saints,

in addition the red marin little branch is the symbol of Christ’s blood. Fishing and coral manufacturing were practised in all Mediterranean, from it the coral was exported throughout known countries, passing through streets which were inversely used to import spices, silk fragrance and other precious goods. Even if coral comes from far, it spreads strongly into customs of eastern wander people, who considered it a good-luck charm., in fact they employed it to decorate their own horses.In Trapani there were coral reeves which provided abundant raw-materials. The art of coral manufacturing changed into systematic craftsmanship since XV century when in the “History of Trapani of 1591” it spoke of the “coral and corallari of Trapani activity”, because that “bono magisterio” was already well-known for an half part of the century as expression of art and had already gone over the first stage of simple production of grains and small balls for the rosary.It had been produced valuable objects sacred and profane in which to the precious coral were added elements such as : gold, silver, copper, enamel, mother of pearl, lapis lazuli, pearls and precious stone. The valuable objects are: Madonna’s sculputures, saints, crucifixes, pixes, cups, reliquaries, traies, lamps, small cases, jewels, fonts, monstrances, bedsides, frames, nativity scenes.Since 1400 Torre del Greco was interested to coral fishing and fishermen of Torre del Greco, for their secular experience moved to African coast.In the seventh century the hostility of French company royal of Africa raised, it obstructed all foreigners fishermen for assuring themselves the monopoly on the
coral fishing. For frequent controversies, in the 1780, fishermen of Torre del Greco asked to Bourbon a regulation of the coral fishing; that enquiry allowed to the proclamation of coral code after 10 years. Besides it was convenient to transfer coral manufacturing where it was fished, so under the regency of the High magistrate of Commerce G.B.Tanucci, he hoped in his treaty of coral fishing the displacement of manufacturing and sale to the capital of kingdom.In the 1790 Acton approved the foundation of “Real company of Coral “ which gave to people of Torre del Greco the exclusive power for the sale of coral. Unluckily that company hadn’t had success, the idea had assumed by marseillase P. B. Martin who obtained, in the 1805, by king Ferdinando IV ten-year authorization, it was renewed both G. Napoleone and Murat to open a factory in Torre del Greco.
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