Filigree

Maltese Filigree

A typical Maltese craft which boasts detail and dedication with its luxurious aesthetic, produced by early ages that used to be creative in their patriotic symbolism. It is known as "Filigrana" in Maltese and includes busy organic patterns made from fine threads of silver and/or gold. In Maltese tradition of garments, we always tend to use these colors as it was luxurious, especially on women. It used to be worn by the majority of women, but only in special and important occasions due to security. Due to this, these garments were not seen in public for years maybe decades, making research on them more difficult, and limited the spreading of the craft throughout countries and even Malta on its own.  These jewelry pieces were sacred for the wearers as they believed of providing them fertility, good luck, and protection. Its participation in the Great Exhibition enabled the craft to get exposed by the English and European public.

It is hard to imitate, and adds value to the historical collection in Malta. It dates back to ancient Egypt, and can be found throughout Mediterranean and Asia. The piece above is an earring which was found between 5-7^th Century in Egypt, which boasts a fine pearl. The material is gold, but the technique seems to be a bit different than ours, which include more detail and thin patterns making the overall design more dense. We also notice a shape which resembles our Maltese Cross. Egyptians were all about high standards and luxury, thus this proves how our Maltese filigree aims to give the wearer this standard. The Egyptians’ also made use of circular chunks which seem to be used as a joining technique, as on the other hand ours makes use of silver solder to join so as not to distract the overall pattern.

Filigree is not just about jewelry, but also in jewelry cases, which for the Maltese, cases like the above are of high importance, due to sentimental factors to many such as keeping jewelry family’s ancestors etc. kept or gave for the sake of their memory. This is a tradition in the Maltese family and cases like these give it high standard the sentiments deserve. Other products with filigree include brooches, bracelets and earrings. In Malta, filigree will almost always contain the Maltese cross. This is due to factors Maltese believe when it comes to their cross… the points represent Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude. This is why they feature the cross, so as to believe they are guarded by these aspect they believe in according to their Christian beliefs. "Ghajn u gorn", "Matti", "Genwiz" and "Skratac" are different types of patterns Maltese filigree add with the commonly used Maltese cross.

Phoenicians are known for a big influence they left to the Mediterranean, as they used to trade gold and silver in high numbers. They spread their filigree designs and techniques, so the craft gained large exposure throughout. Most of them settled with the Etruscans, thus it gained interest as they were people of the arts. This settling resulted in more elaborated design to the filigree. They were so good, that jewelers following them (till today) get inspired by their designs.

  

Filigree went through a negative effect due to the mass production in the Industrial Revolution. This resulted in lost craftsmanship associated with Filigree before. Cheap materials were used to replace the fine gold and silver, also gems replaced with paste for imitation. The artistry in Filigree was lost and replaced by cutting out patterns etc. It was Peter Carl Faberge who reintroduced the craftsmanship to the craft in the 19^th Century.

References: 

Cyndie's Studio Designs. 2015. Cyndie's Studio Designs. [ONLINE] Available at: http://cyndiesstudiodesigns.com/filigreehistory.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Tomatoes From Canada: Pergamon Museum 3 -- Islamic Art. 2015.Tomatoes From Canada: Pergamon Museum 3 -- Islamic Art. [ONLINE] Available at: http://tomatoesfromcanada.blogspot.com/2012/05/pergamon-museum-3-islamic-art.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Saliba's Gold and Silversmith - Saliba filigree – precious like you - Saliba's Gold and Silversmith. 2015. Maltese Cross - Saliba filigree – precious like you - Saliba's Gold and Silversmith. [ONLINE] Available at:http://salibafiligree.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=69&lang=en. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Filgree-making: A Disappearing trade - The Malta Independent . 2015.Filgree-making: A Disappearing trade - The Malta Independent . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2011-09-07/news/filgree-making-a-disappearing-trade-298318/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Jewellery from the Maltese islands - timesofmalta.com. 2015. Jewellery from the Maltese islands - timesofmalta.com. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130331/life-features/Jewellery-from-the-Maltese-islands.463771. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Saliba's Gold and Silversmith - Saliba filigree – precious like you - Saliba's Gold and Silversmith. 2015. Filigree made - Saliba filigree – precious like you - Saliba's Gold and Silversmith. [ONLINE] Available at:http://salibafiligree.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=54&lang=en. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Air Malta | Air Malta . 2015. Filigree | Air Malta . [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.airmalta.com/destinations/malta/best-of-malta/culture/filigree. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Made in Malta Products - Filigree Malta. 2015. Made in Malta Products - Filigree Malta. [ONLINE] Available at:https://www.maltaproducts.com/malta_filigree/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Karozzin

The "Karozzin"

Up to the mid 1800s, human transport was functioning with the use of horses, cart or the “kaless” (caliche). People with privileges boasted the use of the Sedan Chair, allowing them to get rid of the muddy streets for their clothing’s cleanliness and was carried by two harnessed strong men. This influenced a lot the design of the “karozzin” as a result of Malta being ruled by the British for a large number of years. It had a door at the front and a window on each side. Used during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, they included a coat-of-arms which the owner held. These consisted of Victorian motifs that insured the high level of status was showcased throughout the journey used. We see the same royal color scheme used on the curtains and framing of the hut used for closure. Their imagery also compliments that one of the previous Maltese buses used. Today, the “Karozzin” is used for transporting tourists while getting a taste of Malta’s culture and traditions with the tour they offer.

The roof remained almost the same as that of the “Karozzin”, though noticing how the red body transformed into the red curtains we use, which enables an opening. Unlike what the British Sedan Chair was about, it does not give privacy the importance the English used to give, maybe due to our small scale and friendliness with each other.

After the Sedan Chair, came the “Kaless” which consisted of the cabin with a pair of wheels holding all the weight on a horse’s back carrying it. These made use as private taxis for nobles and people with high status. It was imported by later Maltese tradesman starting building them to sell for hiring services.

Afterwards, the “Karozzella” was introduced…with four wheels and seats which opened a window for cars in the shape. This is where the “Karozzin” got the name from, as it featured similar design but smaller and with a roof.

Our cabs are different than most of the horse-drawn cabs around the world, as we feature a roof which was used on the Sedan Chair. Maybe this is due to our extremely sunny weather and hot temperature all around the year, especially in summer when the tourists come , which are also the customers in this case. These cabs were the official public transport with a wide range of people using it just like as we do today with our buses. People used them for errands, feasts, occasions etc.

Egyptian carriages include a similar design, only that the roof is an adjustable one. It almost looks like a children’s push chair. The use of country’s colors and historical connections are present in both carriages. The wheels are the same but with different colors. The “tberfil” used in ours seems to be present in Egypt’s as well. This is maybe due to the times where Egypt was ruled by some of our rulers too.

We  notice how the design of the British Sedan Chair influenced largely our cabs today.  Hand painted designs still are available, including Victorian design similarities, but they are more stylized in simple ways due to the narrow wood used.

Noticing as well… Some curtains seem to be with plaid design. This seems to be due to the personal affection the drivers have as they use it commonly in the service. It has become sort of a symbol of Maltese folklore which references the use of Maltese workers who always use the plaid shirts for their traditional hands-on work.

Today, “Karozzini” seem to include stickers on them like we use on our cars… this reflects how we Maltese love personalization in almost everything we have. 

References : 

Joseph C Camilleri. 2015. Il-Kaless. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.vivamalta.net/VMforum/index.php?topic=6306.0. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

marie6: Il-Karozzin (Maltese Horse & Cab). 2015. Just Malta...sun,sea & plenty of sightseeing!!!: Il-Karozzin (Maltese Horse & Cab). [ONLINE] Available at:http://justmalta.blogspot.com/2010/09/il-karozzin-greenfields.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Chris Bonello. - Website of chrisbonello!. 2015. It-Trasport f’Malta. - Website of chrisbonello!. [ONLINE] Available at:http://chrisbonello.jimdo.com/it-trasport-f-malta/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Vassallo History | Maltese History & Heritage. 2015.Maltese Public Transport since 1856 | Maltese History & Heritage. [ONLINE] Available at: https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-public-transport-since-1856-a-brief-history-of-the-public-transport-in-malta-the-omnibus-up-to-the-mid-1800s-the-only-means-of-human-transport-w/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

charbell. 2015. folklore. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.users.on.net/~charbell/Folklore/Folk.htm. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Maltese Boats

 “Id-Dghajsa”

Maltese boats representing and symbolizing our country is a must for our geographical location surrounded by the sea, especially with our tradition of decorating our own way on almost everything we had/have in our culture. These boats used to be (and still are these days) commonly for fishing, but like most traditional subjects, this has become a service for tourist services like carrying them between Valletta, Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua. We have a number of Vernacular boats in our island and all have an interesting name which also showcase our unique language with them. Including are “Luzzu, Kajjik, Dghajsa, Frejgatina, Firilla, Bimbu, Lanca, Lampara, Tal-Midalji.

By far, the most popular is the “Luzzu” which is boasts craftsmanship that requires great skill and high building precision. It is used by the fishermen due to their stability and durability compared to modern boats. Unbelievably, the “Luzzu” is more expensive than fiberglass boats. Without any doubt, the eyes are what give character, being the Eye of Osiris which comes from the Phoenicians as our boats are highly influenced by them. It is believed to protect them against evil, something which is common throughout Maltese vernacular design. It is used also as a general lucky charm to protect the fishermen when on the seas, this is still believed in the present as you see painters apply them to these boats. The “Luzzu” is most commonly seen in large amounts in Marsaxlokk, being the largest fishing village in Malta. Its title derives from the Sicilian word “Gozzo”, being a fishing boat common around its coasts. But, the most interesting part comes when the first consonant “g” is dropped and replaced with the “l”…this is due to its weakness in Sicilian.

Influenced by the Phoenicians is the use of the eyes, structure and partitions of the design. This easily happened as the Phoenicians used our islands due to its central geographical location. The colors Yellow, Blue, Red and Green are the main elements which never changed. These were used to indicate the home port, before the modern number registration was introduced.

Variations differ with size and extra compartments, making use for different uses and comfort among fishermen.

My personal view of the “Dghajsa” includes a strong reflection to our culture, especially with the vibrating vivid colors that represent our sunny weather and colorful citizen characters. Their craftsmanship clearly proves how much our fathers were dedicated to their passions and hobbies.

Resemblance with Egyptian and Victorian design is exposed with the eyes and design, also the shape. How the colors represent the country’s character and culture is an element which strongly goes hand in hand with both. 

Victorian design is represented on a part at the top on the brown strip. This is clear with the British colony on the Islands, also the involvement of the British commission for Princess Elizabeth’s boat to ferry her to the ship in Vittoriosa. Also a “Dghajsa tal-Midalja” was used when Prince William attended the 50^th Anniversary celebrations for Malta’s independence. The “Dghajsa tal-Midalja” was derived from the “Luzzu” with a variation in aesthetic and speed use. In modern days, they are used for the popular Regatta, being a race with these boats, only designed more for the event rather than the traditional ones.

It is inevitable to not make use of these boats in contemporary art. A Maltese artist makes use of the “Luzzu” design, only in a form of a WC we use normally. Its large scale in my view puts focus on artistic meaning, which does not seem to be mentioned by himself. From my point of imagination, this symbolizes how our modern minds are erasing and devaluing our own craftsmanship, culture and tradition. Our "Luzzu" inspires me to make use of traditional and vernacular designs in my work so as to cherish what we truly are passionate about, which is dedication to what you are made of and what made you who you are... your country and the people.

References:

Malta Bulb: A colourful Malta boat that will grab your attention!. 2015. The Luzzu: A colourful Malta boat that will grab your attention!. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.maltabulb.com/luzzu.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Malta Bulb: One of the most recognized Malta Tourist Attractions!. 2015.Malta Boats: One of the most recognized Malta Tourist Attractions!. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.maltabulb.com/malta_boats.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Stephanie Said: A Case-Study of a Maltese Traditional Boat | Stephanie Said - Academia.edu. 2015. The Firilla: A Case-Study of a Maltese Traditional Boat | Stephanie Said - Academia.edu. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.academia.edu/10074441/The_Firilla_A_Case-Study_of_a_Maltese_Traditional_Boat. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Vassallo History | Maltese History & Heritage. 2015. Fishing in Malta | Maltese History & Heritage. [ONLINE] Available at:https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/fishing-in-malta/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

 Sport in Malta | Boats used in Regatta. 2015. Boats used in Regatta. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.sportinmalta.com/boats-used-in-regatta/. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Joe Arevalo: Maltese Fishing Boat - Luzzu. 2015. Wünderkammer: Maltese Fishing Boat - Luzzu. [ONLINE] Available at:http://filforn.blogspot.com/2010/07/luzzu-maltese-fishing-boat-date-back-at.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

Kirsti Newton - A History of the Maltese Gondola | Malta | Azure Blog. 2015.The Dgħajsa - A History of the Maltese Gondola | Malta | Azure Blog. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.azure.com.mt/azure-blog/the-dghajsa-history-of-the-maltese-gondola.html. [Accessed 18 May 2015].

The Maltese Facade

The Maltese Facade

The Maltese facades are a reflection of what the country have been through and what the population’s lifestyle and way of decorating is. A typical façade includes traditional windows, ceramic house name plaques, vibrant wooden doors with impressive knockers and decorative balconies complimenting the whole aesthetic pleasure. By far, these facades create a certain mood to the everyday life of citizens, reflecting with the sunny weather and seascapes, blending with a calm environment throughout. They produce a colorful soothing imagery to the villages and cities, adding value and standard of content living. It contrasts with the dull busy cities in other modern countries where you feel more stressed when having a bad day. Craftsmanship vibrates in our façade furniture, showing our fathers’ dedication to keeping patriotism ongoing for a beautiful country, while respecting our past in good and bad…Keeping the vernacular love our ancestors flourished.

In most facades, the yellow color is the boasting contrast of the Maltese Limestone with the rest of the painted doors etc…The bottom part with the doors mostly are painted and the top part with the balconies left with the limestone showing. It is interesting how they vary between each other, also deciding with the neighbor for the whole façade working together as a whole visual image. This exposes the connection Maltese have with each other due to their friendliness and small geographical scale. Vibrant saturated colors have always been popular in the country, maybe due to the flag colors, sea and bright days. The colorful harmony in the streets compliments the joyful mood Maltese commonly have throughout the day, especially with the sunny weather.

Primary Source from Mdina

Primary Source from Mdina

The balconies vary from one village to the other, for example Valletta’s majestic decorated motifs which represent the city’s history. Political statements were expressed with the balconies themselves, featuring the portico surmounted by the balcony made out of marble. The entrance to the balcony is through a door with Corinthian pilasters and crowned with a broken pediment. The extreme beauty of the baroque guides the viewer to the whole façade, also telling visually the viewer what the political relation is to the building.

Influences seem to be from Spain as it governed Malta from 1282 to 1530. Decorative motifs with the Acanthus Leaf appear with enclosure. Spain’s seem to be more elongated and decorated with detail, highlighting the country’s culture and overall aesthetic.

Egyptian balconies seem to be similar in the enclosure, also in the variety to them like ours. Their motifs represent strongly the country and its culture, but differ the color variations. Maybe a reflection on their dull surroundings and environment with the brown color scheme. They seem to prioritize privacy unlike ours, as their windows are made from what seems to be wood accompanied by high detail of pattern. On the other hand, ours may be due to the fact that we are of a small scale and almost know each other by large numbers, especially in the same road. We are friendly to anyone by nature, thus it is not a problem for us to be designed that way.

A fusion of modern and traditional aesthetic seems to blend and function well with a project designed by Chris Briffa, consisting of a traditional balcony with the ability to dissect it in half by doors, revealing the bottom part which enables a full view while getting a touch of contemporary image.

As Malta is an Island, the door-knockers reflect the sea with decorative sea creatures and vibrant finishes. These reflect the owner’s personality and were introduced long after the “scratching method” where people used to scratch on doors instead of knocking. The designs are similar to knockers of Japanese doors and feature lions like ours, only we use the Maltese Cross the most. In contemporary methods, the knockers remain the same, but highly 
polished every time. 
The Maltese facade inspires me to create a project consisting of a scale model including the facade all in black with a feature we use on coffins. This triggers the public's view on how we should never forget this shell we have surrounding our country. It will also reflect on how we are killing this facade by time.

References: 

Vassallo History | Maltese History & Heritage. 2015. The Maltese Balcony | Maltese History & Heritage. [ONLINE] Available at:https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/the-maltese-balcony/. [Accessed 15 May 2015].

Share My Travel – The Maltese Balcony | ShareMyTravel. 2009. Il-Gallarija Maltija – The Maltese Balcony | ShareMyTravel. [ONLINE] Available at:https://sharemytravel.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/il-gallarija-maltija-the-maltese-balcony/. [Accessed 15 May 2015].

Ottsworld. 2015. Maltese Balcony Origins. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/maltese-balcony-origins/. [Accessed 15 May 2015].

The Malta Guide. 2013. Mdina Door Knockers. [ONLINE] Available at:http://themaltaguide.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=300:mdina-door-knockers&catid=46:blog&Itemid=77. [Accessed 15 May 2015].

Anecdotes from Malta: Some Maltese Door Knockers. 2010. Anecdotes from Malta: Some Maltese Door Knockers. [ONLINE] Available at:http://anecdotesfrommalta.blogspot.com/2010/03/some-maltese-door-knockers.html. [Accessed 15 May 2015].

Secret doors to balcony with a view - timesofmalta.com. 2014. Secret doors to balcony with a view - timesofmalta.com. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140302/local/Secret-doors-to-balcony-with-a-view.508823. [Accessed 15 May 2015].