MATA AND GRIFONE

Our family of mythical and extraordinary characters is expanding: here is Mata and Grifone, our two little ‘giants’ Moorish heads'.

Small in shape this pair of Moorish heads, but giant in its mythical history.

The legend takes us back to the year one thousand and tells us about a love that blossomed in Messina between a beautiful girl named Marta, Mata in dialect, and Grifone, a gigantic Saracen soldier, dedicated to piracy. Grifone, from his hideout on the Peloritani Mountains, devoted himself to raiding, plundering the surrounding territories. One day, during one of his forays, he spotted Mata in the crowd and fell madly in love with her. The young Mata, however, horrified by the misdeeds of her lover, wasn’t very pleased with the passionate love of the Saracen. Grifone tempted them all with arrogance but was unable to bend the will of the beautiful girl. Our Saracen then understood that the only way to win the heart of his beloved was to become a man for whom Mata could have esteem.

Grifone gave up piracy and began a new life dedicated to the cultivation of the land and charity. It was then that Mata began to look at him with different eyes and to fall in love with this man who had changed his life as a gesture of love. From their love many children were born, and for this reason, tradition wants that our characters are the progenitors of the inhabitants of Messina. Mata and Grifone, as always happens with Crita’s collections, are entirely handmade in Caltagirone.

The hands of our master craftsmen have shaped Moor's heads small in shape, 10cm, but precise in their lines and shapes. The great 'crown' that surmounts our Moorish heads, makes them agile and soaring. Crita’s style, pure and elegant, is imprinted on our new Moorish heads from Caltagirone, which we thought are perfect as dish holders, pen holders and obviously flower pot. Our homage to Messina, one of the most glorious cities in Sicily and a new way of understanding the small ceramic artefacts of Caltagirone: always precise, elegant and functional.

Crita in small size and unaltered beauty.

This ceramic product, entirely handmade in Caltagirone, can become a wedding favor, a corporate gift, a gift for your guests. Contact us at info@critaceramiche.com to request a quote with a special price.