Testo in italiano
U conza lemmi
by Agata Sandrone and Silvana Restivo
(1° Video – Presentazione Agata)
Hello everyone, I am Agata Sandrone in collaboration with Silvana Restivo today we will talk about a profession that is no longer practiced: u conza lemmi, that is the plate and salad bowl fixer.
U conza lemmi was the one that repaired the terracotta or ceramic plates.
![](https://www.splendidsicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Il-conza-lemmi-1-234x300.jpg)
When he arrived in the village abbanniannu that is shouting, he involved people to approach and bring the plates or tureens to be repaired. With a glue he joined the pieces.
Here is a fangotto, a plate used to put the astrattu, the tomato paste.
After putting the glue in the plate, he would drill holes in it with a wooden drill to make it stronger.
Here I show you a copy of the drill he used. After making the holes, he would pass some wire.
![](https://www.splendidsicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Il-conza-lemmi-5-300x268.jpg)
The plate or the tureen were fixed, but they could not contain liquid food anymore, but only solids.
Here we have a small statuette that reminds us of the novel by Luigi Pirandello: “La Giara”.
In this novel we talk about the conza lemmi, struggling with a jar, which he will be forced to break… because ironically he repaired the jar with him inside.
![](https://www.splendidsicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Il-conza-lemmi-2-253x300.jpg)
2° Video (momenti tratti dal film)
(trascrizione del dialogo)
Don Lolò – It’s my fault, if I didn’t leave you alone… you were still good! But instead you went away forever! And now what do I do?
The granddaughter – Nonnò, look, it can be fixed, only a piece has come off, the cut is clean, maybe it was cracked?
Don Lolò – It wasn’t cracked, it rang like a bell and now I won’t hear it anymore!
The niece – Yes, you will hear it.
![](https://www.splendidsicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Il-conza-lemmi-7-300x189.jpg)
Don Lolò – Do you want me to believe in miracles?
The niece – Some people still make them.
Don Lolò – and who makes them?
The niece – The best picthers fixer of Sicily.
Don Lolò – And what does it have fairy hands?
Peasant – No, not fairy hands, but a glue that works miracles! Its so strong , not even a hammer can crack it.
Uncle Dima – Work!!! Slowly, slowly!!! Pull, pull! Hit, hit, hit!
![](https://www.splendidsicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Agata-Sandrone-225x300.jpg)
Author: Agata Sandrone, Cultural Department of Splendid Sicily
![](https://www.splendidsicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Silvana-Restivo-219x300.png)
Author: Silvana Restivo, Cultural Department of Splendid Sicily
![](https://www.splendidsicily.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Giovanna-Battaglia-Cannolo-Report-300x270.png)
Translation: Giovanna Battaglia, Cultural Department of Splendid Sicily