Entry 46: The Glow of a Lamp - A Luci du Lumeri

Basilia Staltari
Aug 20
2 min read

Location: Calabria

Date: Late 1930’s to 1950’s

After the birth of each of her seven daughters, the same recurring phrase swirled in the mind of Concetta Trimboli:

‘Figghiola nta fascia

E dota nta cascia.’

This translates to:

Daughter in swaddling cloth

And dowry in glory box.

Reflecting social expectations, the first part of the phrase was easy to achieve. Following the ancient custom of wrapping babies in long bands, Concetta practised the swaddling technique on all her children until they reached the age of 12 months. (See Entry 35)

The second part however, required decades of planning. Her husband - Salvatore Moschilla, organised the local carpenter to build the glory boxes. These were crafted from walnut wood – ‘cu lingnu da nuci’. It was then Concetta’s ongoing task to fill them with high-quality household items suitable for dowries. The process of making, accumulating and storing these items started soon after the birth of a female and continued until her marriage.

Photographed below are pillow cases, a bedsheet and a towel – some of daughter Girolama’s remaining dowry, with a focus on the beautiful embroidery done by Girolama's eldest sister, Angelina. On rainy days, when outdoor chores couldn't be completed, and during the evenings by the glow of a kerosene lamp, Angelina worked with her needle and thread. Precise attention was given to every single stitch - her exceptional skills and passion evident in the elaborate designs created. The embellishments were truly works of art, made with love.

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