Moorish Heads

entirely handcrafted and decorated.

Ceramiche Sofia of brothers Intonato Nicola and Intonato Giuseppe is a company from Caltagirone (Sicily, ITALY) that produces artistic majolica. The manufacturing processes that lead to the creation of our ceramics are divided into six important phases: Turning, Drying, first firing, Glazing, Decoration, and Aging.
For each of these phases, we dedicate the utmost care to every detail so that the final product is the result of a unique, inimitable, and timeless work.

See the production phases of our ceramics

The Story of the beautiful Sicilian maiden and the legend of the Moorish head
It is said that in Palermo, around the year 1100 (during the period of Moorish domination in Sicily in the Kalsa district), a beautiful maiden lived in a palace who loved to spend her days tending to the flowers and plants on her balcony.

One day, a young Moor passing through Kalsa saw the beautiful girl, intent on tending her plants, and was smitten. He decided he wanted her for himself, and without hesitation, he entered the girl's house and declared his love for her. The maiden, touched by such strong feelings, reciprocated the young man's love, but when she learned that the Moor would leave her to return to his lands in the East, where a wife and children awaited him, she waited for nightfall. As soon as he fell asleep, she killed him, cut off his head, made it into a vase where she planted basil, and proudly displayed it on her balcony.
Thus, the Moor, unable to leave, would always remain with her. Meanwhile, the basil grew luxuriantly and aroused the envy of all the inhabitants of the neighborhood. They, not wanting to be outdone, had terracotta vases made in the shape of Moorish heads.