1995 - The Silver of Malta

This catalogue was compiled to compliment one of Patrimonju's most prestigious exhibitions, Silver of Malta.

The nine hundred and ninety-five entries consist of silver items created by Maltese and foreign silversmiths that settled in Malta, ranging from mid 16th Century till the 19th Century. These objets d'art commissioned by the Maltese, the Knights and also by the British residents, became highly collectable items of exceptional craftsmanship of an international standard.

The wide variety of exhibits included silver for banqueting and tea tables, the famous oil lamps (lampieri), glove trays (guantieri), salvers (sootocoppe), scent flasks (Balsamini), snuff-boxes, jewelry and several others. Religious silver was also exhibited but restricted to items used in the house or house chapel.

The catalogue is forwarded by a synoptic essay on the" Influence of European Silver on the Maltese Art of Silversmithing", and includes an exhaustive "Glossary" and an illustrated section to the "Makers' Marks" of all the recorded silversmiths producing silver in Malta.

Alaine Apap Bologna is an art historian and connoisseur, who specialised in silver and objets d'art at Christie's Geneva becoming the head of the silver and watch departments.