Antique and Rare , silver, Figa Hand ( mano fica ) Amulet Charm Pendant .

Antique and Rare , silver, Figa Hand ( mano fica ) Amulet Charm Pendant .

These charms are traditionally worn in Italy to ward off the evil eye, the crude gesture is supposed to distract evil away from the wearer, but that’s not all. The centuries old symbol is the perfect totem for female empowerment, representing pleasure, fertility, and strength.

Italy ( Sicily ) early 1700s

Size 5.5 cm

Weight: 17 gr.

The fig sign is a mildly obscene gesture used at least since the Roman Age in Italy, Southern Europe, parts of the Mediterranean region, including in Turkish culture, and has also been adopted by Slavic cultures and South Africa. The gesture uses a thumb wedged in between two fingers. This gesture is most commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request.

In ancient Rome, the fig sign, or manu fica, was made by the pater familias to ward off the evil spirits of the dead as a part of the Lemuria ritual.

The hand gesture may have originated in ancient Indian culture to depict the lingam and yoni.

Among early Christians, it was known as the manus obscena, or 'obscene hand'.