My 'moretta' earrings

   Do you have  memories of the unique earrings your nonna or grandmother wore?  If you are of Trentini descent, you probably do and chances are those earrings were passed down from generation to generation.

    Both my grandmother and great-grandmother, (nonna and bisavola) wore a pair of these earrings manufactured over a century ago in what is now Croatia, and sold throughout the region.  These earrings, called Moretto or Moretta, depicted the face and head of a black man or woman, wearing a gold and white turban.

    While traveling though Trentino, I was determined to find a pair for myself.  My parents and I searched through little shops and jewelry stores.  We asked women on the streets if they knew where to find these.  They all recognized our drawing of one, and told us only a few, very old women still had these.  Amazingly, we found a little jewelry store in Fondo (Val di Non) which had an original antique pair to sale.  These were kept in a safe in the back room.  My father bought them for 980,000 Lire or about $500.00.  Even the modern replicas, which didn't look much like them at all, were priced at 570,000 Lire or $350.00! There had to be a better and easier way!