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THE WHISTELS OF NOVE or, as Venetians say, “I CUCCHI DEE NOVE “ Where Nove ( that is the name of a little town near Bassano) perhaps Stands for nine or new house .

The  “CUCCO” (whistle) : a call of friendship

The “cucco” is maybe the first sound toy of ancient times: its origin is lost in the mist of time but we can find animal-shaped or human being-shaped whistel in the most remote civilisation as a result of the ingenuity and fantasy of the first moulders of our mother father  Adam. In more recent times the “cucco”could be bought on the stalls of country village festivals as a humble many-coloured toy for poor children or as a token of love given by the “moroso” (lover) to his “morosa” (sweetheart) who was very happy to play it.
The “cucco” usually had the shape of a bird, the cuckoo, and limited its singing.
It is proved that the “cucco” not only brings luck but also has magical powers. When you are in low spirit, if you blow tour sighs into the “cucco” you will get a magical soothing sound evoking the song of the cuckoo in the woods at the beginning of springs, an infallible call of lova
and youth.
A good advice: keep a “cucco” on tour bedside table and its sound will surely have a strong aphrodisiac power for you and for youe true-love. The “cucco” in the picture on the left with a Napoleonic soldier astride of it takes its original from the witty resentment of the ceramist from Nove against Napoleon and his troops, violences, robberies and wipe-outs. It is a harmless but meaningful almost prophetic revenge: Napoleon is unsaddled from his superb steed and is relegated on a “cucco”!
 
arcicuco di Domenico Poloniato
Severino Carraro
Mario Scuro

“CUCCHI” (whistles) AND “ARCICUCCHI” (big whistles)
Once the little “cucchi” of Nove migrated towards the towns or villages of the Venetian region or elsewhere to popular festivals and feasts when the call of spring resounded. They were the ancient symbol of the awakening of nature and of the hopes all human beings. They were played just for fun by simple people and by children and they were the pretext for proverbial witty sayings.
It seems that the traditional “cucco” (the one with the soldier) appeared in Napoleonic times. Its popular-like decoration painted in brightly-coloured brush stokes and its shape (as well as the one of more simple whistles) have been used up to now.
The stylisation seems to be due not only to fashion or taste but also to the necessity of coming to the essential result with the the least complications as the whole whistle was and still is handmade.
Keeping the same theme the “arcicucco” with its shape, dimension and colours suitable for these times pays a right essential homage to the tradition of our Venetian land. It is a new invention and has also got the aim of attracting attention on this humble but beautiful expression of ceramic poetry.
The “arcicucco”, whic at least is 25-30 centrimetres high, has a different shape according to the inspiration and the mood of the artist. The theme is resumed with variations which suit the particular function of this object. 

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