Sicilian Craftsmanship: the Matrangela
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Among the most fascinating expressions of Sicilian craftsmanship is the Matrangela, a winged female figure that unites myth, art, and collective memory. Its name, which means “mother of angels”, already reveals its protective nature, linked to fertility, abundance, and domestic life.
This statuette, once known as “pupa cu l’ali” (doll with wings), was born from the ceramic tradition of Santo Stefano di Camastra, a renowned center of Sicilian pottery. Made of terracotta and glazed, the Matrangela is characterized by its stylized body, open wings, and joined hands: a harmony of forms that gives it elegance and symbolic strength. Traditionally used as a candle holder, it spread light in homes and symbolized protection and family warmth.
Its origin lies in ancient cults linked to the Great Mother. Later, it became customary to give it to young brides as a wish for prosperity.
Today, the Matrangela continues to live on as an identity icon: not just a decorative object, but a talisman that carries stories, values, and roots. Strolling through the artisan workshops of Santo Stefano di Camastra, it is still possible to admire it in both traditional and revisited versions, each different, unique, and capable of preserving the memory of an ancient spirituality.
Acquiring a Matrangela means carrying with you a fragment of Sicily: a land where craftsmanship intertwines with myth and every creation becomes a living story.
Discover more about Sicilian craftsmanship.
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