Mano Figa Protective Stud Dangles

Ward off evil with these sterling silver stud dangle earrings. They are hand carved and cast in sterling silver and hang from sterling silver hoops that you put in your ear like a stud. Lightweight and perfect for everyday wear.

The gesture of the thumb protruded between the pointer finger and middle finger has a variety of different meanings dating back nearly 8,000 years. The specific symbolism that gave rise to the charm that we refer to as a Mano Figa (fig hand, properly, ‘mano fica’) originated in Etruscan Italy.

The Mano Figa is an ancient fertility symbol, with variations spanning thousands of years across cultures. An ancient representation of sexual union, it’s commonly considered an “obscene” gesture and is used most frequently as a slang reference to female genitalia. The name derives from the Italian word for the female vulva, fica, meaning fig. It's also commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request.

In ancient times, it was worn as an incantation to The Goddess, a call for fertility, virility and good times. Because the gesture carries such an array of meaning, it's easy to give it the significance you choose.