We've got our eye on you.
Evil eye charms from Athens, komboloi from Nafplio, sea sponges from Kalymnos, olive oil soap from Crete and more, picked out in Greece and shipped from the USA. Every piece is tagged with the island or town it comes from.
The collection
Every piece is in stock and ships from the USA in 2–3 business days.
Where it's from
Greece is a country of islands and regions with their own specialties, from Chios mastiha to Kalymnos sponges. These are the places behind this collection.
How we work
Picked in Greece
Every piece is chosen in person on trips across Greece, from Athens markets to island shops, then shipped to you from the USA.
Real origin, named
Each listing names the island or town and what the piece is made of. Our sponges are real sea sponges and our olive wood is solid wood.
Packed to travel
Pottery and glass are double-boxed, and every order is insured until it reaches you.
Keep an eye out
Our first drop is almost ready. Leave your email and we'll let you know the moment we open.
Mati!
MAH · tee / Greek for "eye"
The blue eye that looks back. Greeks have hung charms like these over doorways, on babies' cribs and from rearview mirrors for generations, to turn away the envious glance known as the evil eye.
Evil eye facts
An ancient idea
In the 500s BC, Athenian potters painted large eyes on wine cups now called eye-cups, often explained as a way to ward off evil.
Why blue
One common explanation is that blue eyes were rare around the Mediterranean, so a blue eye was thought to hold the strongest gaze.
Ftou, ftou, ftou
To protect someone you've just complimented, Greeks make a light spitting sound three times. It keeps the praise from drawing the eye.
The oil test
If someone feels drained, a grandmother may drip olive oil into a glass of water and read the drops, then whisper a prayer to lift the eye.
Mati pieces
Bracelets, charms and wall hangings with the blue eye, from Athens and Rhodes.
These pieces are also in the main shop.
Checkout
Ευχαριστώ!
Your order is in. A receipt is on its way to your email, and we'll send tracking as soon as it ships.
Accessibility
We want everyone to be able to browse and buy from Mavromata, including people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, magnification or other assistive technology.
Our standard
We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at level AA, the standard used for accessible websites.
What we do
- The whole site works with a keyboard, with visible focus outlines and a "Skip to content" link.
- Text and controls meet AA color-contrast levels in both light and dark mode.
- Animations can be paused, the opening intro can be skipped, and motion turns off for anyone who has reduced motion enabled on their device.
- Words in Greek are marked so screen readers pronounce them correctly.
- Form fields are labeled, and errors are explained in text.
- Card payments use Stripe's secure payment form, which is built to be accessible.
Known limitations
We are adding real product photos over time, and each will include a text description. If anything on the site is hard to use, please tell us and we will fix it.
Contact us
If you run into a barrier or need help placing an order, email hello@mavromata.com. We aim to reply within two business days.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Shipping & Returns
Last updated: October 21, 2026
Processing time
Every piece in the shop is in stock. Orders ship within 2–3 business days, and you'll get an email with tracking as soon as yours is on its way.
Where we ship and what it costs
Every order ships from the USA. We ship anywhere in the United States, to Canada, and to most other countries, including Greece. Your order pays one shipping rate, based on its heaviest item, no matter how many pieces are in it.
| Heaviest item | United States | Canada | Rest of the world |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, 8 oz or less (charms, bracelets, soap) | $6 | $16 | $20 |
| Medium, 8 oz to 3 lb (komboloi, sandals, sponges) | $9 | $24 | $32 |
| Large, over 3 lb (tavli boards, olive wood, pottery) | $12 | $38 | $55 |
Free shipping on US orders over $75. The exact amount for your order is always shown in your cart before you pay.
Every piece is wrapped and padded for travel. Fragile items like pottery and glass are double-boxed.
Customs, duties and taxes
Orders that cross a border may be charged import duties, taxes or customs fees by the destination country. These charges aren't included in our prices or shipping and are the recipient's responsibility. If a package is refused because of these charges, we'll refund the item once it's returned to us, minus the original and return shipping.
Returns
If you're not happy with your piece, you can return it within 30 days of delivery. To be eligible, it must be unused and in the condition you received it.
- Email hello@mavromata.com with your order details to start a return. Please don't send anything back until we've replied.
- Return shipping is paid by the customer, and original shipping costs aren't refunded.
- Once we receive and check the item, we'll refund your original payment method. Your bank or card may take 5–10 business days to show it.
- For hygiene reasons, earrings can only be returned if they arrive damaged.
Damaged in shipping
Fragile pieces can sometimes break in transit. If yours arrives damaged:
- Email us within 7 days of delivery with clear photos of the item and the packaging.
- We'll send you a prepaid label, and you'll return the item in its current condition, including the pieces if it broke.
- Once it arrives, we'll give you a full refund, including the original shipping.
Lost or late packages
If your tracking stops updating or your order hasn't arrived when expected, email us and we'll open a claim with the carrier. If the carrier confirms the package is lost, we'll refund you in full.
Cancellations
Need to cancel? Email us before your order ships and we'll refund you in full. Once it has shipped, the return policy above applies.
Natural materials vary
Olive wood, sponge, amber and clay are natural, so no two pieces are exactly alike, and yours may differ slightly from the photos. These small differences aren't defects.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 21, 2026
This policy explains what information Mavromata ("we," "us") collects when you visit mavromata.com or buy from us, how we use it, and the choices you have. In short: we collect only what we need to get your order to you, and we don't sell your information.
What we collect
- When you place an order: your name, email address, shipping address, the items you bought and, if you choose to give it, your phone number.
- Payment details: card and digital-wallet payments are processed by Stripe, and PayPal payments by PayPal. Your full card number goes directly to them and never reaches us. We receive only a confirmation and basic details such as the card brand and last four digits.
- When you join our email list: your email address and the date you signed up.
- When you contact us: whatever you include in an email or message.
- Technical information: our hosting provider, Cloudflare, processes basic information such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you request. It uses this to deliver the site, protect it from attacks and give us overall traffic statistics. These statistics don't identify you.
Cookies and browser storage
We don't use advertising or tracking cookies. Your cart, currency choice and animation setting are saved in your own browser so they're there when you come back. That information stays on your device and isn't sent to us.
Some outside services see basic technical information when they load. The site's fonts come from Google Fonts, which receives your IP address. At checkout, Stripe and PayPal may set their own cookies to prevent fraud.
How we use your information
- To process, ship and support your order, including sending order and tracking emails.
- To answer your questions and handle returns.
- To send the emails you signed up for.
- To prevent fraud and keep the site secure.
- To keep the business and tax records the law requires.
Our email list: if you join, we'll email you on launch day, when new drops arrive, and with the occasional offer. Joining is optional, every email has an unsubscribe link, and you can also email us to be removed. We don't send text messages. If we ever do, signing up for them will be a separate choice.
Who we share it with
We share information only with the companies that help us run the shop, and only what they need to do their part:
- Payments: Stripe and PayPal.
- Hosting and security: Cloudflare.
- Shipping: the carrier delivering your order.
- Email: Kit, which stores our email list and sends our newsletters, and the provider we use to send order emails.
We may also share information if the law requires it, or if the business is reorganized (for example, into a company) or sold. We don't sell your personal information, and we don't share it for targeted advertising.
How long we keep it
We keep order records for as long as tax and accounting rules require, usually up to seven years. Everything else is deleted once we no longer need it.
Your choices
You can ask us to show you the personal information we have about you, correct it, or delete it. Email hello@mavromata.com and we'll respond within 30 days. Some records, like completed orders, may have to be kept for tax purposes. You won't be treated differently for making a request.
Security
The whole site is served over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, and payment details are handled directly by Stripe and PayPal. No method of sending or storing information online is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect yours.
Children
Mavromata isn't directed at children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we'll delete it.
Visitors outside the United States
Our service providers may process your information in the United States and other countries, where data protection laws may differ from those where you live.
Changes
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. Significant changes will be noted on the site.
Contact
Questions about your privacy? Email hello@mavromata.com.
Terms of Sale & Use
Last updated: October 21, 2026
These terms apply when you use mavromata.com or buy from Mavromata. By using the site or placing an order, you agree to them. Mavromata is an independent shop owned and run by its founder in the United States.
Our products
Many of our pieces are made from natural materials like olive wood, amber, sea sponge and clay, so color, size and grain vary from piece to piece and can differ slightly from the photos. These variations aren't defects. We describe each piece and where it came from as accurately as we can.
Many pieces are one of a kind, and an item can sell out between the time you add it to your cart and the time you pay. If that happens, we'll let you know and refund you in full.
Food and drink use: unless a product description says a piece is made for food or drinks, treat it as decorative.
Prices and payment
- Prices are in US dollars, and you're charged in US dollars. The euro (EUR) prices on the site are estimates for reference only.
- Where we're required to collect sales tax, it's added at checkout.
- Discount codes: one per order, applied to the item subtotal, and they can't be combined or exchanged for cash. Codes may expire, and we may cancel an order that misuses one.
- Payments are processed securely by Stripe and PayPal.
- If a price is listed incorrectly because of an error, we may cancel the order and refund you in full, even after you've paid.
Orders
Placing an order is an offer to buy. We accept it when we ship it. We may refuse or cancel an order, for example if an item is unavailable or we suspect fraud, and if we do, you'll get a full refund.
Shipping and returns
Shipping times, customs charges, returns, damaged items and cancellations are covered on our Shipping & Returns page, which is part of these terms.
Using the site
Everything on this site belongs to Mavromata or is used with permission. That includes the text, product photos, illustrations, and the Mavromata name and eye logo. You're welcome to share links. Please don't copy, resell or reuse our content without permission. Don't misuse the site, for example by trying to disrupt it, gain unauthorized access, or place fraudulent orders.
Disclaimer and limits
We work hard to keep the site accurate and running, but it's provided "as is," without guarantees that it will always be available or error free. To the extent the law allows, our total responsibility for any claim related to a purchase is limited to the amount you paid for that purchase, and we aren't responsible for indirect or consequential losses. Nothing in these terms limits rights you have under consumer protection laws that can't be waived.
Changes
We may update these terms from time to time. When we do, we'll update the date at the top. The terms in effect when you place an order apply to that order.
Contact
Questions about these terms? Email hello@mavromata.com.
Mavromata
mav · ro · MAH · ta / Greek, μαυρομάτα / noun
The dark-eyed one. The girl in the old songs whose one look is enough.
The word
Mavromata joins mavro, black, and mati, eye. It describes a woman with dark eyes, and Greek love songs have been losing their hearts to one for generations. In English we say dark-eyed, never black-eyed, which means something else entirely.
The look
In Greece, a look is never just a look. An admiring or envious glance can carry to mati, the evil eye, and the blue glass eye you see on doors, cribs and wrists is there to look right back and send it away.
Why we chose it
We wanted a name with a look of its own: a little mischief, a lot of charm, and a blue eye watching over every order. From the mati to the komboloi, these are the pieces Greece keeps an eye on you with.
"I've got my eye on you." Said with a raised eyebrow, half warning and half flirting.