Our family of mythical and extraordinary characters is growing: here are Mata and Grifone , our two little 'giant' Moorish heads.

This pair of heads is small in shape, but giant in its mythical history.

Legend takes us back to the year 1000 and tells of a love that blossomed in Messina between a beautiful young woman named Marta , Mata in dialect, and Grifone , a gigantic Saracen soldier, devoted to piracy. Grifone, from his hideout in the Peloritani Mountains , dedicated himself to raiding, plundering the surrounding territories. One day, during one of his raids, he spotted Mata in the crowd and fell madly in love. Young Mata, however, horrified by her suitor's misdeeds, was far from reciprocating the Saracen's passionate love. Grifone tried everything with a bold and domineering manner, but was unable to break the will of the beautiful woman from Messina. Our Saracen then realized that the only way to win the heart of his beloved was to become a man Mata would respect.

Thus Grifone renounced piracy and began a new life dedicated to farming and charity. It was then that Mata began to look at him differently and fall in love with this man who had changed her life as a gesture of love. Their love produced numerous children, and for this very reason, tradition holds that our characters are the ancestors of the inhabitants of Messina. Mata and Grifone are, as always with the Crita collections, entirely handmade in Caltagirone.

The hands of our master craftsmen have crafted these small Moorish heads, measuring 10cm, yet precise in their lines and shapes. The large "crown" that surmounts our Moors makes them agile and soaring. The pure and elegant Crita style is embodied in these new Caltagirone Moorish heads, which we have designed as perfect tableware holders, pen holders, and, of course, flower holders. Our tribute to Messina, one of Sicily's most glorious cities, and a new way of understanding Caltagirone's small ceramic artifacts: always precise, elegant, and functional.

Crita in small format and unaltered beauty.

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