Cagliari, Regional Ethnographic Museum Cocco Collection

The collection, purchased in 1954 by the Sardinian Region, is set up in the regional pavilion of the Citadel of Museums, whose premises have been the subject of demanding adaptation work. It is named after Luigi Cocco (Villasor 1883 - Cagliari 1959), an illustrious magistrate passionate about Sardinian traditions and folk art, who established it thanks to meticulous research in his native country and in the rest of the island.
The collection, declared in 1948 by the Minister of Education “a complex of exceptional artistic and historical interest”, has about 2000 artifacts, including 731 textiles, 1266 jewels, as well as a modest number of tools, furniture and carving works, placed mainly between the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century.
The textiles come mostly from south-central Sardinia (Arbus, Busachi, Desulo, Decimoputzu, Gonnosfanadiga, Gonnosfanadiga, Gonnosnò, Guspini, Laconi, Meana, Monastir, Nuragus, Nuraminis, Pabillonis, Pimentel, Samatzai, Sanluri, Senorbì, Serramanna, Serrenti, Silius, Simala, Soleminis, S. Gavino Monreale, S. Giusta, S. Nicolò Gerrei, S. Sperate, Tertenìa, Tulio, Vallermosa, Villamassargia, Villanovafranca, Villasor), in some cases from the north of the island, sometimes commissioned by the same magistrate in countries known for the refinement of their productions, such as Ittiri and Ploaghe.
The fabrics are made with the traditional horizontal loom: blankets (fressádas, fánugas), casket covers and table covers (Cobericàscia and Coberibàngus), pillow covers (cabidalèras), bed ornaments (ingirialéttus) ornamental stripes (faciàdas), tablecloths (tiàllas), towels (asciuttamànus, tiallòras) potholders (calapingiàdas), saddlebags (bérulas), animal collars (gutturádas, candies) nackles).
As far as jewelry is concerned, there is limited information on the origin (Ogliastra, S.Vito, Bono, Ittiri, Uri, Villasor, Sulcis). Mostly in silver, they document the most important and widespread types related to clothing, in particular festive and feminine, with the specific function of clothing accessories or personal ornaments. To the practical-ornamental function, jewels add a strong symbolic value and social differentiation and, as in the case of amulets, also a magical-protective meaning.
The collection mainly features buttons, belts, charms, rosaries.
The objects of use and furniture include boxes, an oil lamp in polychrome terracotta, brass lamps, a carved pumpkin, carved wooden utensils (spoons, cutting boards, ladles, salt shakers, etc.), horn carvings and palm work; and again, containers for horn gunpowder, an enameled ceramic figurine and a female shoe from Oliena.
Of particular importance are the boxes, typical household furniture items (kascia or arka, the larger case, kascita or kascioneddu, the smaller box). In chestnut wood, with a folded lid, they are of the “barbaricino” type, with the façade formed by wooden bands adorned with geometric, phytomorphic and zoomorphic carvings.

Why it's important to visit it
In a setting rich in suggestions, refined works of traditional craftsmanship collected with passion and meticulousness tell the story of an island and its inhabitants.