Scheda Oggetti
Schede catalografiche di base compilate da Alessandro Grossi
Gli oggetti qui schedati sono rappresentazioni fisiche delle figure dell’immaginario o strumenti di attività lavorative della civiltà contadina legati prevalentemente alla tessitura e/o all’intrecciatura. Le statuette prevalentemente in terracotta sono il risultato di attività scolastiche con gli alunni dei Licei Artistici della provincia di Lucca e ripropongono storie e personaggi dell’immaginario folklorico.
The Museum Collections
Objects of material culture and folk imagination preserved by the Museum: search by keyword or browse by section.
166 records found.
The Man and the Pig
Spirits and Presences of GarfagnanaClay sculpture depicting a man lying under the weight of a pig, in a dramatic and symbolic composition. The human body, bent and suffering, appears crushed by the…
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- Category
- Sculpture / Symbolic figure
- Provenance
- “A. Passaglia” Art High School – Lucca
- Materials
- Natural clay
- Technique
- Hand modeling and patination
- Dimensions
- approx. 20 × 15 × 10 cm
- Dating
- 2023/24
- Location
- Italian Museum of Folk Imagination – Spirits and Presences of Garfagnana Section
- Condition
- Excellent; contemporary piece in good condition
- Interpretation and context
- The piece draws inspiration from a Garfagnana legend in which the pig, symbol of greed and sin, grows until it crushes the man who fed it. When the man falls, the evil within him manifests and escapes, leaving behind only the emptied matter. The sculpture portrays the moment of catharsis, when the weight of sin separates from the body and the devil, deprived of his dwelling, vanishes.
The pig symbolizes man’s material and instinctive side, which, if fed without restraint, becomes destructive. The fall marks the turning point: evil reveals itself and dissolves, giving man the chance to be reborn. The piece, visceral and intense, visually expresses the theme of purification through suffering. - Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
Small Valletto
Smaller basket than the “Valletto”, featuring a dense and regular weave. The mix of willow and ash ensures flexibility and durability.
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- Category
- Domestic and agricultural basket
- Provenance
- Garfagnana area, Province of Lucca
- Materials
- Willow (lateral parts), ash wood (central parts)
- Technique
- Handwoven circular structure with reinforced rim
- Dating
- 20th century (first half)
- Function
- Used for collecting and carrying small agricultural or household items
- Location
- Museo Italiano dell’Immaginario Folklorico
- Condition
- Good, with minor signs of use
- Interpretation and context
- Object of rural craftsmanship, symbol of domestic economy and sustainable use of natural resources.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
The “Gatto Mammone”
Spirits and Presences of GarfagnanaClay sculpture representing the “Gatto Mammone,” a legendary creature from Garfagnana folklore. The black cat with yellow eyes sits on a circular base decorated with leaf- or flame-like…
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- Category
- Sculpture / Folkloric figure
- Provenance
- “A. Passaglia” Art High School – Lucca
- Materials
- Natural clay and pigments
- Technique
- Hand modeling and cold painting
- Dimensions
- approx. 15 × 10 × 10 cm
- Dating
- 2023/24
- Location
- Italian Museum of Folk Imagination – Spirits and Presences of Garfagnana Section
- Condition
- Excellent; contemporary piece in good condition
- Interpretation and context
- The “Gatto Mammone” is a folkloric figure from Garfagnana associated with night, mystery, and household protection. Legend says it appears with glowing eyes to frighten evil spirits or warn those who break community rules. The sculpture captures its dual nature—both domestic and supernatural, familiar yet unsettling—symbolizing the threshold between the human and the magical world.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
Valletto
Large circular basket with open weave, combining strength and lightness. Its wide concave shape allowed air circulation for harvested goods, preventing spoilage.
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- Category
- Domestic and agricultural container
- Provenance
- Garfagnana area, Province of Lucca
- Materials
- Natural woven wicker
- Technique
- Handwoven spiral technique with reinforced rim
- Dating
- 20th century (first half)
- Function
- Used for collecting and carrying agricultural products (fruit, vegetables, leaves)
- Location
- Museo Italiano dell’Immaginario Folklorico
- Condition
- Good, showing use marks and slight rim deformation
- Interpretation and context
- Evidence of rural craftsmanship, reflecting the use of natural materials and inherited manual skills.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
White terracotta amphora
Everyday LifeWhite terracotta amphora with globular body, short neck, and two large handles joining the upper rim. The surface is smooth and matte, with subtle tonal variations from firing.…
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- Category
- Domestic and agricultural container
- Subcategory
- Amphora
- Provenance
- “A. Passaglia” Art High School – Lucca
- Materials
- White terracotta
- Technique
- Hand shaping and kiln firing
- Dimensions
- approx. 35 × 25 cm
- Dating
- 2023/24
- Location
- Italian Museum of Folk Imagination – Everyday Life Section
- Condition
- Excellent, with intact surface and natural patina
- Interpretation and context
- Created by students of the “A. Passaglia” Art High School in Lucca, the amphora draws inspiration from ceramic forms of Tuscan and Garfagnana tradition. The piece highlights the continuity between ancient craftsmanship and contemporary education, emphasizing manual skill and material memory.
The amphora, symbol of preservation, nourishment, and life, embodies the ability to hold and protect what is essential. In Garfagnana folk culture, the closed vessel signified domestic balance and respect for the earth’s resources. - Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
The Mushroom Maiden
Stylized female sculpture with a dotted dress and mushroom-shaped hat. Warm tones and the curved posture suggest a gentle, almost ritual dance. The trailing filaments recall roots or…
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- Provenance
- “A. Passaglia” Art High School, Lucca
“A. Passaglia” Art High School, Lucca - Materials
- Painted papier-mâché
- Technique
- Hand-modeling and painting
- Dimensions
- approx. 40–45 cm (h); 15 cm (w); 10 cm (d)
- Dating
- 21st century
- Location
- Italian Museum of Folk Imagination
- Interpretation and context
- The figure blends the human body with the mycological world, turning the mushroom-cap into a sign of rebirth, metamorphosis, and connection to the underground. The trailing filaments evoke invisible networks, symbolizing the community’s ability to renew itself through deep and vital bonds.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
Portrait within the Organic Frame
Volti e MateriaTerracotta bust of a female figure with idealized features and upward gaze, enclosed within an irregular, organic frame. It represents the legend of Lucida Manzi. The surface, adorned…
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- Provenance
- Anonymous contemporary artist
Collection of the Italian Museum of Imaginary Folklore - Materials
- Terracotta, mixed material, gold leaf
- Technique
- Hand modeling, gold leaf application, assemblage
- Dimensions
- approx. 40 × 30 × 15 cm
- Dating
- 21st century
- Location
- Section “Faces and Matter”
Museo Italiano dell’Immaginario Folklorico - Condition
- Excellent; slight oxidation on the frame
- Interpretation and context
- The frame, resembling branches or roots, appears to grow from the figure, merging human and natural forms. The work reflects on the boundary between body and environment, identity and metamorphosis.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
The Guardian Spirit
Compact figure wrapped in a white cloak, with stylized face and triangular black eyes. Its menacing expression and jagged mouth evoke the dual nature of the spirit—both protective…
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- Provenance
- “A. Passaglia” Art High School, Lucca
“A. Passaglia” Art High School, Lucca - Materials
- Painted plaster or papier-mâché
- Technique
- Hand-modeling and painting
- Dimensions
- approx. 25–30 cm (h); 15 cm (w); 15 cm (d)
- Dating
- 21st century
- Location
- Italian Museum of Folk Imagination
- Interpretation and context
- The piece represents the threshold between the world of the living and the realm of spirits. The white cloak suggests purity and protection, while the black eyes and mouth evoke the unknown and the fear that accompanies every transition. It is a figure that guards and warns, embodying the tension between good and evil.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
Basket
Circular basket with flat base and high sides, made with a dense and uniform weave. The structure ensures both strength and lightness.
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- Category
- Domestic and agricultural basket
- Provenance
- Garfagnana area, Province of Lucca. Circular basket with an arched wooden handle, handwoven with local wicker. Traditionally used in the region’s agricultural activities for gathering chestnuts, leaves, and small woodland products. Donated by Elena Giusti to the Gastone Venturelli Library for the 1970 exhibition “Weaving in the Lucchese Area”; later transferred and donated to the Italian Museum of Folkloric Imagination.
- Materials
- Wicker or woven wooden strips
- Technique
- Regular handwoven technique with reinforced rim
- Dating
- 20th century (first half)
- Function
- Used for collecting and carrying agricultural products, fruit, or leaves
- Location
- Museo Italiano dell’Immaginario Folklorico
- Condition
- Excellent, with minimal signs of use
- Interpretation and context
- Typical object of rural tradition, used in daily activities and symbolizing domestic economy and local craftsmanship.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
Wicker Flask Carrier
Flask carrier in woven wicker, with double cylindrical structure and central handle. The dense weave ensures stability, while the wooden frame provides balance and strength.
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- Category
- Domestic and agricultural flask carrier
- Provenance
- Garfagnana area, Province of Lucca. Flask carrier made of local wicker, consisting of two cylindrical baskets joined by a central wooden structure with a woven handle. Traditionally used for the balanced transport of wine or oil flasks in agricultural and domestic contexts. Donated by Elena Giusti to the Gastone Venturelli Library for the 1970 exhibition “Weaving in the Lucchese Area”; later transferred and donated to the Italian Museum of Folkloric Imagination.
- Materials
- Woven wicker and wood
- Technique
- Regular handwoven technique with reinforced rim and central wooden frame
- Dating
- 20th century (first half)
- Function
- Transport of wine or oil flasks
- Location
- Museo Italiano dell’Immaginario Folklorico
- Condition
- Good, with slight signs of use
- Interpretation and context
- Typical object of Tuscan rural craftsmanship, symbolizing practicality, domestic economy, and everyday transport in the countryside.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
Capagnata Basket
Circular structure made of two concentric rings connected by twisted radial bindings of natural fiber. Its rustic appearance and sturdy material suggest a practical use, likely as a…
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- Category
- Circular wooden woven structure
- Provenance
- Garfagnana area, Province of Lucca
- Materials
- Hazel or chestnut branches tied with leather strips or plant fibers
- Technique
- Hand weaving and binding
- Dimensions
- approx. 45–50 cm (diameter)
- Dating
- 19th–20th century
- Location
- Italian Museum of Folk Imagination
- Interpretation and context
- The circular shape evokes the cycle of nature and communal labor. The weaving of branches symbolizes the connection between humans and the environment, where each knot becomes a sign of cooperation and continuity. The Capagnata embodies balance and mutual support, central values in Garfagnana’s rural culture.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi
![Terracotta Figure [Saint Francis or Praying Saint]](https://museoimmaginario.net/immaginario/wp-content/uploads/schede-catalogo/scheda-126-figura-in-terracotta-san-francesco-o-santo-orante.jpg)
Terracotta Figure [Saint Francis or Praying Saint]
Terracotta sculpture depicting a saint or praying figure seated on a circular base decorated with reliefs of smaller figures within niches. The expressive face and hands raised in…
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- Provenance
- “A. Passaglia” Art High School, Lucca
“A. Passaglia” Art High School, Lucca - Materials
- Modeled terracotta
- Technique
- Hand modeling and sculpting
- Dimensions
- approx. 35–40 cm (h); 25 cm (w); 25 cm (d)
- Dating
- 21st century
- Location
- Italian Museum of Folk Imagination
- Interpretation and context
- The piece represents the mediation between the human and the divine, where terracotta—an earthy, humble material—becomes a vessel of sacredness. The figures at the base embody the community gathered around the saint, symbolizing intercession and spiritual harmony.
- Compiled by
- Alessandro Grossi