The Art of Coral in Sicily

Ippolito Ciotta,Caravella Chiaramonte-Bordonaro, late 17th century, Altomani & Sons collection (Milano – Pesaro).

The Art of Coral in Sicily looks back to the 1986 show curated by Corrado Maltese and Maria Concetta Di Natale at the Museo Pepoli, a turning point in the rediscovery of Trapani’s craftsmen. The new display draws on four decades of research and discoveries, exploring Sicily from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century through works of art, maps and books.

Loans from Palazzo Madama in Turin, the Gallerie Estensi in Modena, the Museo Pepoli and Palazzo Abatellis are shown alongside important private collections. From tiny carved details to spectacular centrepieces, the exhibition reveals an artistic tradition that transformed coral into objects of wonder.