THE MANO FICO (FIG HAND)

Figa Fists Ancient Protection Keyring, Keychain

Italian Mano Fico, Evil Eye.   

The mano fico, also called figa, is an Italian amulet of ancient origin. 

Examples have been found from the Roman era, and it was also used by the Etruscans. 

Mano means "hand" and fico or figa means "fig," 

with the idiomatic slang connotation of a woman's genitals. 

(An English slang equivalent might as well be "pussy hand.") 

It represents a hand gesture in which the thumb is thrust between 

the curled index and middle fingers in obvious imitation of hetorsexual intercourse.

Whether made as an apotropaic gesture or worn as an amulet, 

the mano fico is used for magical protection against the evil eye. 

In this it resembles other hand gestures and hand images that ward off evil, 

including the hamsa hand, the eye-in-hand, the mano cornuta (horned hand), 

and the interlocked thumb gesture. A regionally popular amulet, it is primarily 

found in Italy and in America among descendents of Italian immigrants. 

It also shows up on a Peruvian package amulet and in a South American 

charm vial, both reflecting colonial European influences.

The mano fico shown here is a modern pewter reproduction of a 

19th century silver amulet, probably from the area around Naples, 

where such charms were extremely popular. 

Older Neapolitan mano fico charms were also carved of blood coral.