Among the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, grows the coral: an amazing animal-derived material produced by colonies of tiny white filter-feeding polyps that fix various substances to augment the branching coral structures on which they live.

Based on the amount of the different minerals fixed, the coloration of the coral is determined, which can range from rare white to blue, brown to black, pink to orange to a bright red color, distinctive of the corallium rubrum, which is without a doubt, the most sought-after one. Capital of red gold processing, a Neapolitan city known worldwide for the art and tradition of coral is Torre del Greco.

The history of coral

Coral has fascinated entire generations since prehistoric times. Evidence from different eras points to a long story closely related to that of various peoples, until it became a refined art form. Some prehistoric finds demonstrate the ancient origins of the use of coral, used as a valuable stone Ornamental for various objects.

Later pagan beliefs spread that attributed to red coral an apotropaic value, that is, against the evil eye. I Romans Indeed, they used it in its cruder, branched form since it was thought to be able to "stab" the evil eye. It also acquired a medicinal value among these ancient civilizations given the widespread belief that coral powder could prevent epileptic seizures, dental pain and nightmares. These and many other beliefs gave rise to the fascinating legends told on the account of red coral.

During the Middle Ages coral continued to serve as an amulet while it was with the establishment of Christianity that red coral was worked and used to adorn sacred objects and reliquaries and also appeared in some paintings and sacred works. It becomes even more precious and its red color symbolized for the Church the blood of Christ. Because of its high value, coral also begins to intrigue the nobility. In the 1400s luxurious objects were carved from coral, which was used in the manufacture of jewelry and cameos highly sought after at Italian and Spanish courts.

Because of the great fortune that coral was acquiring, a fundamental event occurred in those years: coral fishermen, that is, Sicilian coral fishermen, began to move from their city to other lands. Thus it was that some of them settled in the coastal towns of Campania.

Red gold comes to Torre del Greco

The Torres fishermen thus began to go in search of coral by pushing their ships, the coral reefs, to the seas of Sicily and Sardinia reaching as far offshore as Corsica, Tunisia and Algeria. With their special sturdy nets preceded by huge wooden crosses, they extracted coral by cutting it directly from the colonies and hoisting large quantities of it on the ship's deck. In the 1800s the idea spread that it was more profitable to process and sell coral where it was caught. The Royal Coral Company was founded by the Bourbons and a Coral Code was also established to regulate fishing and trade.

In those years a member of the Genoese bourgeoisie, Paolo Bartolomeo Martin, landed in Torre del Greco. The latter was actually an entrepreneur who came to the Neapolitan city in search of fortune. His skill in coral working soon led him to settle permanently in the city and spread his knowledge to the Neapolitan people. On the other hand, the king Ferdinand IV greatly encouraged local handicrafts, and when the young entrepreneur asked his permission to open the first factory on coral processing, the ruler was happy to agree. The art and craftsmanship of Martin and his pupils molded red coral, and in the many family workshops the precious material was transformed into even more valuable artifacts, thus beginning a long tradition jealously guarded and handed down from father to son.

The first School of Coral Engraving and Industrial Design was also born shortly thereafter. Even today, the name of thered gold of the Mediterranean and that of the Neapolitan city, form an inseparable pair so much so that Torre del Greco has become the coral capital of the world.

The Artistic and Technical Primacy of Coral from Torre del Greco

Walking through the streets of Torre del Greco, one very often comes across goldsmiths and workshops where red coral is worked. However, there are also private collections occasionally displayed in biennial exhibitions such as "Le Vie del Corallo" or in the settings of the coral museum. These include the private collections of various historical and illustrious families, such as those of the Ascione, Apa, Liverino and De Simone, who guard the secrets of Torrese coral art. Their exhibits showcase not only the various coral crafts but also the machinery and processing techniques used.

The processing of red coral

Various are the stages of processing Of the coral. Initially, raw fished coral is washed to clean it of plankton and impurities that compromise its color and thus conceal its type. Skilled artisans choose the pieces of coral on which they will then have to perform specific processing. They go on to cut them into spheres and small portions then move on to the next stage using the grinding wheel to perform the rounding of the portions obtained previously. At this point, the small beads are drilled, which will allow a wire to pass through the center, which is essential for the creation of coral jewelry.

Finally, we finish with polishing, which can be done by means of waxes or a technique called tumbling. The latter involves the use of a machine that acts like a centrifuge where pieces of coral and pumice powder are placed and spun at very high speed for 24 to 36 hours. Any engravings will be made by the expert hand of the craftsman who passes the coral to pitch on wooden rods and employs a special mastic that makes the material more malleable. The result will be those magnificent jewels that are famous all over the world.