Theresa Maggio

Silver heart by Palermo silversmith Antonino Amato.

It is a tradition all over southern Italy to promise a thing of value to a saint in exchange for a "grazia ricevuta", a favor received, often a cure. Those who could afford it often bought silver miniature bas relief replicas of the body part which received the grace. They pin them to the  Read More 

An artisan in the workshop of Antonino Amato in Piazza G. Meli behind the Church of San Domenico in Palermo, autumn 2012. He is creating a silver crown for a madonna.