Little is known about the origins of these Mallorcan clay figurines, called siurells.

Some historians believe that they were brought to Mallorca by the Phoenicians. Similar clay models exist on the other Mediterranean islands of Crete, Sardinia and Ibiza.

Some old Mallorcan Rondailles populares (folk tales) suggest that a siurell was customarily given by a young lad to the girl he had chosen to be his bride, as a symbol of his devotion. If she took the gift without comment, it meant that she would consider the proposition. If she did not accept the toy, it meant that the advancement was rejected outright. If she took the figure, brought it to her lips and made the whistle blow a tune, the groom’s proposal was happily accepted. A wedding feast would soon be celebrated.

The photo was taken in the town of Manacor, Mallorca, Spain. The date: October 11th, 2007. The time was 15:51:33.