Neapolitan tradition
Free-standing Bust of the Bella Mbriana, made and painted entirely by hand!
Real size:
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Cm 5x9x10h
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Material:
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Neapolitan Terracotta
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Who is the Bella Mbriana
Contrary to Janara, that of Bella Mbriana is a good spirit who loves being in company. She too, like the first, has the habit of breaking into other people's homes; however, her intentions are profoundly different. The Bella Mbriana is in fact driven by a noble and benevolent purpose, that is to bring harmony into the home. Like all spirits, however, she is a bit capricious and tends to favor only people she likes. Those who receive her visit must feel very honored: the Bella Mbriana only helps people who are good and grateful for what they have. On the other hand, what annoys her is hearing statements against the family or the house: in her presence, one must never be unhappy with one's home or complain about its defects because the specter of the woman would make the environment even less hospitable.
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Ancient history
The Bella Mbriana would find incarnation in a young woman who died a long time ago. The protagonist of the story linked to this popular figure is in fact that of a beautiful girl abandoned on the altar. The girl, desperate for that love that never came to fruition, ended up losing her mind and thus began wandering through the streets of the city. What she most loved to do with her was to sneak into the homes of the Neapolitan inhabitants to be able to spy on their daily life. Her father then, being a very wealthy man, decided to give money to those who offered refreshment to her young woman, showing himself kind to her. For this reason, the spirit is said to leave gifts here and there in the homes of honest people.
According to the legend, it is important to leave an empty chair for her, so as to appear welcoming and win her blessing. Today the Bella Mbriana is considered the protector of the house and the family. The elders of the city, in fact, still give her a jovial greeting in the morning and hope for her goodness to get out of situations of poverty.