Our beginning sounds like a fable...
The time is set at the end of the 19th Century and the King is visiting a military base in Sardinia. Suddenly a sailor from the guard of honour steps out of the ranks and kneels in front of him.
"Your Majesty", says the young man in a Neapolitan dialect:
"I'm not yet twenty but have a wife and two children. I have been working coral since I was seven and now have a small Corallina [boat for the harvesting of coral] in Torre del Greco, Italy. My wife can't manage to keep it working on her own though and if Your Majesty doesn't send me back home I'll be ruined and my children will starve to death."
Impressed and amused, as in all fables, the King discharges him from the navy and sends the young man home again. Ciro Scarfogliero returns to Torre del Greco and to his work, buys another Corallina and sets up all that is needed to develop the business.
Today in 2008, my family's company is over one hundred years old and again there is a Ciro Scarfogliero, my father.
My name is Lucia Scarfogliero, I am the fifth generation of a dynasty of coral craftsman who have done a great deal to build the legend of Torre del Greco.
Unfortunately, during the Second World War, my family lost their Corallina but we continue to this day to work with the amazing 'fruit of the sea' - the coral. Moreover, after several journeys to Japan, today we are also an important company for the import and export of pearls.
You are more than welcome to visit us at our offices:
Two of them are in Tarí, Caserta, Italy; one is in Perugia, Italy and lastly we have our base in London - Unit 123 & 324 in Grays.
