Figure - Gobbo della fortuna - Cassia R.

“Hunchback of Fortune” or “scattered” carved in “conciglia cassia” by master craftsmen of the time. Early 1900s
, known in Naples as 'O Scartellato, is a popular superstitious figure symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and good luck, considered the opposite of the jinx. Rooted in Neapolitan tradition, the belief is that touching his hump (or having one of his amulets, often made of silver or featuring a red horn) brings good luck, prosperity, and abundance, drawing on ancient beliefs about fertility and the figure of the bearer of full baskets.
Meaning and origins
'O Scartellato: The name derives from the Neapolitan term "scartello", which means hunchback, and refers to the man bent over by the weight of a basket.
Symbol of wealth: The hump represents the weight of a basket full of goods, so touching it or having it as an amulet promises to share that abundance.
The opposite of the jinx: He is a positive figure, who wards off bad luck, unlike someone who brings the evil eye.
How to use the amulet
Activation: The person giving it to you should prick the palm of your left hand with the tip of the horn (if present).
Representation: He is often depicted with a top hat, a red bow tie and, sometimes, a Neapolitan horn.
Smorfia: In the Neapolitan smorfia, the hunchback (Scartellato) corresponds to the number 57.
From private collection