A beautiful gattopardo (serval) serigraphed orange and black plate with a glycerine based orange soap in a lovely gift box. The plate is decorated with an illustration of the Serval mosaic found in Palermo.
The serval in question is inpired by a mosaic in the Norman Palace in Palermo built sometime after 1130. Most people think of the image as a leopard and but from the similarity of look, here is another reason.
A novel way to define Sicily ?
The serval has become a Sicilian icon because of “Gattopardo” the name of a book by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa was published in 1959. However the English translation of the book title is usually Leopard. The serval and African leopard are consequently confused but the Italian for leopard is leopardo.
The Book
The book traces the decline of a noble family during the risorgimento – the upheaval of the unification of Italy in the 19th Centtury. The historical background is that Garibaldi’s campaign that led the unification and full independence of Italy started on Sicily in 1860. It was the culmination of a protracted and complex struggle against mainly Austrian rule that has lastested since the 1830s. Garibaldi led the 1000 Redshirts under hs command across Sicily and onto the mainland moving north to link up with the northern Italian states and so Italy was finally united in 1861.
The Film
The book is considered a classic of European literature and was turned into a film in directed by Luchino Visconti and starring Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale and Alain Delon in 1963. This film is considered one of the top 10 historical films ever made and itself is classic.
As well as this Ortigia gattopardo soap on a plate, see all the gifts available from Abrahams Store in the Ortigia range by clicking this link.
Abrahams Store stocks a variety of products featuring Ortigia Perfumes available here.
