Horn made of red coral

19-09-2021
Horn made of red coral

Thinking about red coral, the most common image is the red coral horn, often linked to the Neapolitan tradition as lucky charm.
Over the centuries, coral has acquired many different meanings and has been covered with numerous apotropaic values.
It was only later that coral jewelry became popular. In iconography, in the history of art and in sociology, coral recurs for various uses.
The red coral in particular is linked to the concept of rebirth.
Already in various civilizations of the past it was given to newborn children.
Red symbolizes blood, its life force, life. Numerous traces of these beliefs have come down to us and are also used in classical painting of the eighteenth century.
Currently, in India red coral is in great demand for the production of aphrodisiac preparations.
Likewise, red coral is highly sought after in Asian countries for the realization of prayer Malas.

The lucky horn

It common to believe that red coral horn must be donated and purchased in order for it to be effective.
It must also have a very precise shape, that is, as they say in Naples, "with the turn and with the voted", or with a double curvature and a very straight tip.
According to tradition, if the tip of the coral horn itself breaks, the amulet would turn into a vehicle of doom.
In addition, the shape of the coral horn is reminiscent of the phallus, another symbol of virility and great fortune since ancient times.

A lucky charm from the collection

In our private collection of antique jewels we keep several lucky symbols in addition to the typical red coral horn. Among the jewels there is a metal pendant that has the number 13 in the center and underneath 13 different pendants each engraved in coral with a different meaning.
It is one of the very few relics of its kind, which sublime describes the value attributed to the red coral of the Mediterranean even in the past.
Even today, beyond popular belief, consumers often ask for the coral sprig or the red coral horn.