What Is The Stunning Red Pendant In Alysa Liu's Instagram Post?

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It started with her flawless skating that earned her the gold, and now the world is abuzz with everything Alysa Liu. The American figure skater overflows with personality that she shows off on the ice as well as with her personal style. One of her recent Instagram posts featuring a curious coral-red pendant has commenters curious about what it means and — more importantly — where they can score one for themselves. With a shape like a stout, wavy horn, and crown of curlicued embellishments, this object is more than just a pretty bibelot. This horn-shaped curiosity is often used in Italy as a way to ward off bad luck in your home.

The "cornicello", translated to "little horn", is a powerful symbol for protection in Italian folklore. Like many other Mediterranean cultures, many Italians believe that the "evil eye" brings bad luck and look toward talismans for protection. But the cornicello's meaning goes beyond protection. This quirky form has roots in paganism as a fertility emblem and may be linked to the idea of abundance of a cornucopia. The fiery color of Liu's cornicello has further significance. The pomodoro red you'll often see on a cornicello is associated with strength, power, and blood.

Like Liu, many wear a cornicello as a necklace, but it's not uncommon to spot "cornicelli" hanging on walls in homes around the Italian peninsula and islands. If your home is in need of any of these forces, or you'd just like a lesser-known conversation piece in a vibrant color, welcome a cornicello into your home for a bit of possible magic and a definite dose of style.

Although some might prefer wearing their cornicello as a pendant, you can tuck a cornicello into your home decor to help you nail the Italian villa decor trend and stave off the evil eye at the same time. Getting your hands on a cornicello-based home accent is most fun when it happens in Italy itself. But if boarding a plane to the "Bel Paese" (beautiful country) doesn't work with your budget or calendar, you can order one in a few clicks. Etsy and eBay are great sources of both vintage and new Italian horn-themed artisan pieces. Even Amazon offers its fair share of cornicelli, like this horn charm. However, there's always a chance of unearthing a cornicello at a thrift or antique store, a flea market, or an estate sale.

Posters, sculptures, and pendants are all forms in which Italian horn can enhance your living space. The cornicello's resemblance to a chili pepper has led to the chili itself becoming synonymous with the original shape. Especially in Naples, strings of peppers dangle in garlands as lucky charms. Spice up a blank wall in your kitchen with a cornicello-pepper framed poster or artwork like the cornicello rosso poster by rawlex on Redbubble. A string of handmade peppers or real, dried ones also makes for an accessory that's tastily at home in a kitchen.

This garnet red Iron Elegance Italian Horn "Cornicello" is perfect as a suncatcher, lounging on a shelf, or as a way to go 3D on a gallery wall. Strung on ribbon, a jewelry pendant can become a hanging ornament or part of a napkin ring. You may even find a wall hanging depicting an oversized gold cornicello dangling on a chain.