1312 – Hand

Physical description:

Beautifully carved wooden hand in the 'Mano in Fica' gesture. With decorative silver base and chain round wrist.

Museum classification:

Protection

Information:

Found in an antique shop in Holland. It is likely that this is Italian in origin. The metalwork is very reminiscent of Berber craftsmanship; but as Berber ancestral lands are in North Africa just south of Italy this is perhaps not surprising. Some scholars also believe that these "mano fico" amulets originated in Carthage in North Africa, with the Berbers preserving many Carthaginian traditions. (The terms "mano in fica" and "mano fico" essentially mean the same; but "mano in fica" is generally used for the gesture, and "mano fico" for both the gesture and the amulet.)

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Wood, metal

Found in an antique shop in Holland. It is likely that this is Italian in origin. The metalwork is very reminiscent of Berber craftsmanship; but as Berber ancestral lands are in North Africa just south of Italy this is perhaps not surprising. Some scholars also believe that these "mano fico" amulets originated in Carthage in North Africa, with the Berbers preserving many Carthaginian traditions. (The terms "mano in fica" and "mano fico" essentially mean the same; but "mano in fica" is generally used for the gesture, and "mano fico" for both the gesture and the amulet.)