Il corallo trapanese nel XIX secolo

Abstract

This essay examines the production of Trapani coral jewelry during the nineteenth century, emphasizing its role as one of the most distinctive expressions of Sicilian decorative arts. While rooted in the prestigious coral-working tradition that flourished between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, nineteenth-century production evolved toward jewelry intended for an aristocratic and bourgeois clientele, increasingly attracted by coral as a symbol of elegance, luxury, and social prestige. Drawing on historical sources, archival documents, and surviving artworks, the study reconstructs the activity of major Trapani artisans and workshops, including the Tardia family, Michele Laudicina, Carlo and Leonardo Guida, Giuseppe Gioiuzza, and Giovanni Pizzitola. Particular attention is devoted to the refinement of cameo carving and to the diffusion of parures, necklaces, earrings, brooches, and diadems characterized by mythological themes, naturalistic motifs, and sophisticated gold settings. The essay highlights how Trapani coral jewelry maintained strong connections with contemporary Mediterranean and European artistic trends while preserving its unique local identity and technical excellence.