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Malta crafts

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The ‘Sleeping Lady’ found in the Hypogeum is a clay figurine of exquisite workmanship. A symbol of the nation's extraordinary heritage, the figurine is deeply ingrained in the Maltese sense of identity. In the Tarxien temples, archaeologist also found fragments of red-dyed, flax textiles. These fabrics showed that the prehistoric islanders had considerable skills in weaving.

The Arabs introduced cotton into Malta from around 870 and brought also their expertise in weaving and dyes. Cotton production became a major rural industry from medieval times up to the early 19th century. During the time of the Knights, Gozitan cotton linen was highly-prized in mainland Europe.

Weaving, embroidery and lace-making were encouraged, often by the Church. Life in Gozo and much of rural Malta was relatively harsh and craft industries became a main source of income for rural families. Such was the worksmanship of these textiles during the 17th century, that various Grand Masters prohibited the wearing of embroidered and fancy garments considering them frivolous and out of keeping with the Order's religious calling.

A craft that really flourished under the Knights was gold and silver ware. Malta’s most precious production is filigree and jewellery. Today, Maltese goldsmiths are thriving, their work often exported to major cities abroad.

Where to buy crafts

The Malta Crafts Centre in St John’s Square, Valletta, acts as a showcase of the Islands’ crafts and provides information on where best to buy the various items mentioned here.

There are three main centres where you can browse and buy crafts: Ta’ Qali Crafts Village in central Malta; and in Gozo, the Crafts Centre in Victoria (in the Citadel) and the Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village at San Lawrenz. Local crafts are sold in souvenir shops across the islands.

Lace-making

If there is one craft Gozo is known for today, it is lace-making. Gozitan lace is highly-regarded for its artisanship and intricate designs. It is the most Gozitan of all souvenirs. It has undergone a revival in recent years and is in great demand by visitors to the Island.

The craft had been mastered locally by around the middle of the 17th century, but for the next 200 years it was mainly worked only by a small fraction of Gozitan women. Genoese lace makers were brought to Malta by Lady Hamilton, Lord Nelson’s consort, to help revive the industry in the early part of the 19th century. Maltese lace is a direct descendent of Genoese lace although it developed its own character, often including the Maltese Cross design.

Bobbin lace is made with a number of threads, ghazel in Maltese, each fastened to an elongated spool or bobbin. A pattern is drawn up on parchment paper and holes pricked to show where the pins should be placed to keep the linen threads in position while the lace is made. The parchment is placed on a cushion while it is worked.

Priests were also instrumental in encouraging the expansion of lace-making in Gozo during the 19th century. Before long, lace-making proved its worth as the product was sold to the Islands' upper classes and abroad. With their help, lace-making spread beyond a few families to become an island-wide industry. Examples of Maltese lace were sent to the Exhibition of Industries held in London in 1880.

Encouraged by increasing demand, the art of lace-making spread from mother to daughter and on to neighbours and friends. Before long, lace-making proved its worth as the product was sold to the Islands’ upper classes and abroad. The income made helped raise the standard of living for some families in Gozo’s mainly agricultural society.

In Gozo today, you may be lucky enough to glimpse women sitting outside their front doors working lace as the Island’s women did in centuries past.

Silverware & Filigree

Maltese silverware is an important part of the country's patrimony and is much sought after by collectors in international auction rooms. This craft, which flourished under the Knights, is still carried on in small workshops across the Islands. The side streets of Valletta house jewellery shops, one after another, selling intricate filigree work as well as classic and modern gold and silverware.

An exhibition of silverware held by a heritage organisation, Patrimonju Malti, a few years ago showed just how much rare and exquisite silverware is in private collections in Malta. The exhibition displayed more than 1500 artefacts of Maltese silverware; unique domestic pieces which are magnificent examples of the Maltese silversmiths' art.

With the arrival in Malta of The Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and the flourishing of the baroque style in the building of churches, palaces and patrician homes, the Maltese silver industry emerged to produce some of Europe's finest ware. The Knights even introduced the use of silverware for use at the Sacra Infermeria to help prevent the spread of infection.

You will find fine examples of antique Maltese silver in museums, churches and private houses open the public. But for detailed information, consult the Patrimonju catalogue, 'Silver of Malta'.

Pottery & Glassware

Pottery ranks among the most ancient of Maltese crafts. Many pieces unearthed from the Megalithic period are works of art in their own right, such as the ‘The Sleeping Lady’ found at the Hypogeum, the most precious of all.

Today, the pottery industry creates useful and fun objects, household items and souvenirs ranging from candlesticks, pendants, decorative tiles to lamps and flower pots.

Glassware is a relatively new craft, although the industry was present on the islands in Phoenician times. Entirely mouth blown and hand made, much of the glassware today is a type of original Maltese glass in strong Mediterranean colours.

Fabrics & Knitwear

Since classical times, the Islands have been renowned for the excellence of the local cloth. Roman orator and senator Cicero refers to quantities of Maltese cloth that had been stolen. He also states that Malta had ‘become a manufactory for weaving women’s garments’.

The cotton industry thrived up to the early 19th century, then declined. Up to World War I, the Islands produced coarse and finer weaved cotton on traditional hand looms. Today, fabrics are produced by both hand spinning and mechanised means.

The woollen industry remained small, but Gozo today produces useful heavy knitted garments and rugs. You will find a wide range of woollen and fabric garments and accessories including skirts, handbags, ties and wall tapestries.

Basketware

Basket-making is an old craft developed for the needs of the fishing industry, agriculture and for households. Wicker furniture is also a flourishing craft industry today; many workshops export their goods. Gozo’s markets are full of useful and fun items from log baskets to decorative fishing pots to sunhats.

Maltese Clocks

Malta has a tradition of making some remarkable clocks, in designs unique to the Islands. The industry today is small, but has a fascinating history. These clocks are nicknamed ‘Arlogg tal lira’ clocks, or clocks that cost one Maltese pound. Today, you would need to add a couple of digits to that price. The clocks are laboriously made in intricate stages. Their casings are finely painted and gilded. An exhibition held by a heritage foundation Patrimonju Malti in 1992, displayed some 73 of the most interesting and historic examples on the Islands. The exhibition included wall-mounted domestic, mantel and grandfather types and clock movements including one of a turret clock, various sundials and a full-scale diorama of a fully equipped clockmaker's workshop of the period

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