Saturday, 12 November 2016
Essay
In this essay, I will be discussing Maltese tile and
Maltese lace.
Maltese
Tiles:
Every
country around the world has its traditional items. In Malta most of the old
houses have traditional Maltese cement tiles. These tiles are now back in
fashion and are being remade and put into new houses. This tradition has been
passed over from generation to another. One can find different types of tiles, which
vary both in designs and colours. The
tiles are made out of geometric shapes such as squares and hexagons. Red,
yellow, green, white, black and grey are the most used colours
(independent.com.mt, 2015).
Figure
1: Maltese Tiles (Saliba, 2014)
The
tiles originated back from when Turkey was under the reign of the Ottoman
Empire and after, their use and production technique were taken to Spain. These
tiles have been used and produced in Malta for about 300 years since the early
1900’s. Now there only a few left maters of this trade who still manufacture
them to this day (independent.com.mt, 2015).
Below
is the process entailed in the making of these tiles:
Bajada
(2012) states that first, to make the colour “mastik”, colour pigments are mixed
with white cement and powdered marble then some water is added to the mixture.
After, a “tertuqa” is put on a flat piece of iron. On that iron another square
is added, “il-kwadru”, this time it is shallow and with a whole in the middle.
A mould “il-plakka” is then put inside the “kwadru” and then the tile maker
pours slowly colour by colour into the holes of the form with a “sasla”.
Figure 2: Mastik/colour and the sasla
(independent.com.mt, 2015)
Figure 4: Mastik/ colour and the sasla (original photo)
Figure 6: Mastik is poured into the form (original photo)
After
all the holes are filled in with the mixture, the form is taken out and
“Putraxx”, the black cement mixed with refined sand is sprinkled with a sieve
on the fresh tile. When that is done, a layer of “Milanċ”, damp black cement
mixed with coarse sand is added. The tile is then covered with another piece of
iron “tampun” that fits in the “kwadru” and it is then pressed with a special
mechanism so that everything stays in place and well put together.
Figure 7: Putraxx being sprinkled on the mastic (original
photo)
Figure 9: Tampun is
being put on top of the kwadru (original photo)
The
tile is then removed from the iron pieces and the “tertuqa” is then removed
too. The tiles are then let to dry for about 8 hours and lastly they are washed
with water Tile patterns and colours are handmade and can be customized for one’s
liking; so every tile is unique (independent.com.mt, 2015; Bajada, 2012).
Figure
10: The final result (original photo)
There
is a variety of designs available. Some of them are: 'bettiegħa' (melon),
'Għajn il-baqra' (cow's eye), and 'Sieq it-tiġieġa' (hen's leg), ‘ta’ tmin
forom’ (8 pointed). I talked to Chris Colombo and he said: “Some of the designs
and patterns for the forms, I make myself. I even get inspired from other
designs I see or from older ones I had already owned”. “Before there were
machines they used to press the tiles by hand and they also used beach sand
instead of the marble powder that they use nowadays” (personal communication,
16.1.2017).
Figure
11: Plakka (original photo)
Figure 12: Sieq
it-tiġieġa (original photo)
Figure 13: Ta’
tmin forom (original photo)
The colours and designs
of Maltese tiles inspire a lot of artists and designers. Sef Farrugia, a local
designer, designed beautiful silk scarves, bow ties, ties and pocket squares
inspired by African tiles which are similar to the Maltese ones. I talked to Ms
Farrugia and she said: “In my first collection I had gathered inspiration from
North African tiles / interiors which had started the whole tiles trend in
Malta” (personal communication, 9.1.2017).
Figure 14: African Tiles, pinterest)
Figure 15: African Tiles, pinterest)
Figure 16: African Tiles, pinterest)
Figure 16: African Tiles, pinterest)
Figure 18: Silk scarf by Sef Farrugia
Figure
19: Silk scarf by Sef Farrugia
Figure 20:
Silk scarf by Sef Farrugia
Stephanie Borg was also inspired by
the tiles. These are three paintings of hers that are inspired by Maltese
tiles:
Figure 21: Painting with
Maltese tiles incorporated (stephanieborg.com, n/d)
Figure 22: Painting with Maltese tiles incorporated (stephanieborg.com, n/d)
Figure 23: Painting with Maltese tiles incorporated
(stephanieborg.com, n/d)
She
also has mugs, mouse pads, coasters, soap packaging, tea packaging, prints and
canvases.
Another
artist is The Seventy Four, who makes prints of Maltese tiles
Figure 25-27: Prints inspired by Maltese tiles (Mattew
Demarco- The seventhy four, n/d)
Videos
on/about Maltese tiles:
In
the section that follows, I will be talking about Maltese lace and its
popularity in the Maltese islands.
Maltese
Lace:
Another tradition that
one can find in Malta is the “Bizzilla” (lace).
Lace is a type of fabric weaved thread by thread by flipping the
“ċombini” (bobbins) from one hand to the other around pins and it then forms a
pattern/design. Lace is almost the same as “newl” (loom).
Figure
28: Maltese Lace (online)
Figure29: Ċombini (bobbins) (Azzopardi, 2003)
Lace can be made out of different types of thread such as: silk, wadding, silver, gold, wool and with decorations such as: beads and sequins. Lace is mostly found, used and produced in Gozo. Unfortunately nowadays lace is produced by a few people but the tradition is still on-going (Azzopardi, 2003)
Figure 31: Lady working lace on the trajbu (Pinterest user-
Marikami Lace, n/d)
Maltese
lace originated in the 16th century after it arrived from Venice and upper
Italy when Malta was under the Knights rule. In an article in maltabulb.com
(2009), it is stated that, “The knights introduced bobbin lace as a clothing
accessory to embellish fashion made for nobility and ecclesiastical vestments”.
Lace continued to be made until the economic depression when Malta was under
the British colony.
Figure 32: Lace clothes (marusyamarusya.com, 2013)
Lace
patterns in Genoa were made with needles but Maltese lace makers started using
bobbins. Later Malta had its own unique style of lace. Lace making was done by
lower class people (children, males and females) for both as a hobby and for
time passing and also to earn money for the family (Il-Bizzilla tal-Gżejjer
Maltin, 2003, vassallohistory.wordpress.com, n/d).
Figure 33: Lady working lace on the trajbu (Bay Retro, n/d)
Lace
is not always white, it can be any colour (since the thread can be dyed) but
the most used are white, cream, honey coloured and black. Patterns in lace vary
a lot but the 8 pointed Maltese cross is very popular. Other patterns are wheat
ears, oats and flowers. Patterns can be made for the costumer’s needs and
tastes. Lace can be made into multiple items such as: doilies, tablemats, table
cloths, shawls, veils, wedding dresses, flounces for liturgical vestments and
church lace (vassallohistory.wordpress.com, n/dmalteselace.eu, 2012).
Figure 34: Colourful lace (Azzopardi, 2003)
To
make lace one is required to have these tools: pillows (trajbu) and
pillow-stands, bobbins and bobbin winders, pins and pin cushions, thread
(linen, silk, cotton), rayon, acid free paper, plastic film and patterns.
Queen
Victoria loved lace and whatever she wore was copied and was worn by lower
class and noble people.
Figure 35: Queen Victoria wearing a lace veil and lace
dress made by Maltese (Vella, n/d)
Videos
on/ about Maltese Lace:
In
Conclusion, both Maltese lace and tiles are traditions that are found in Malta.
Both of these have unique patterns and designs from other countries such as the
Maltese cross. I hope they will still be in production in the future since they
are dying traditions.
Reference
list:
Anon,
(2017). [online] Available at:
http://www.malteselace.eu/Lace_Guild/Lace_Guild.html [Accessed 14 Jan. 2017].
Azzopardi,
C. (2003). Il-bizzilla tal-Gżejjer Maltin. 1st ed. Pietà: Pubblikazzjonijiet
Indipendenza
Independent.com.mt.
(2017). FIRST: Stiled in Malta... The art of tile making - The Malta
Independent. [online] Available at: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-08-20/local-news/FIRST-Stiled-in-Malta-The-art-of-tile-making-6736140811
[Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
Malta
Tiles. (2017). Malta TilesMalta Tiles |. [online] Available at:
http://maltatiles.com/ [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
Maltabulb.com.
(2017). The Malta Lace Club - Klabb Bizzilla Maltija. [online] Available at:
http://www.maltabulb.com/malta-lace-club.html [Accessed 15 Jan. 2017].
Maltese
History & Heritage. (2017). Maltese Crafts. [online] Available at:
https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/ [Accessed 15 Jan. 2017].
Stephanie
Borg. (2017). Malta Tile Pattern Archives - Stephanie Borg. [online] Available
at: http://stephanieborg.com/product-category/malta-tile-pattern-collection/
[Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
THESEVENTYFOUR.
(2017). Products. [online] Available at:
http://theseventyfour.bigcartel.com/products [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
TVM
News. (2017). Traditional decorative Maltese tiles still in demand - TVM News.
[online] Available at: http://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/traditional-decorative-maltese-tiles-still-in-demand/
[Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
Versatile.com.mt.
(2017). Versatile. [online] Available at: http://www.versatile.com.mt/
[Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
www.untangledmedia.com,
U. (2017). Silk scarves by Sef Farrugia | Henri | Luxury Gift Boutique Malta.
[online] Henri.com.mt. Available at:
http://www.henri.com.mt/en/products/products/bycategory/64/name/asc/18/1/silk-scarves-by-sef-farrugia.htm
[Accessed 20 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Collecting Memories : Lacemaking. [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtP53Oxf4eQ [Accessed 12 Jan.
2017].https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWGAa4ylW88&list=PLD79267604269BB96&index=4
YouTube.
(2017). Collecting Memories : Lacemaking. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtP53Oxf4eQ
[Accessed 14 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Malta
Craft Laces. [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWGAa4ylW88&list=PLD79267604269BB96&index=4
[Accessed 14 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Malta Tiles 30 second advert. [online] Available at:
https://youtu.be/XyrHVrM5ftY [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Maltese Lace - British Pathe (1953). [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EMsn7rgcEo&list=PLD79267604269BB96&index=10
[Accessed 14 Jan. 2017].
YouTube. (2017). Maltese Lace - British Pathe (1953). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EMsn7rgcEo&list=PLD79267604269BB96&index=10 [Accessed 14 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Mela Isma' Din (Madum Antik). [online] Available at:
https://youtu.be/SwgDrWdXT18 [Accessed 9 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Traditional lace being hand made in Gozo. [online] Available at:
https://youtu.be/SPgp1zFwfGw [Accessed 10 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Traditional lace being hand made in Gozo. [online] Available at:
https://youtu.be/SPgp1zFwfGw [Accessed 12 Jan. 2017].
YouTube.
(2017). Traditional Maltese Tile. [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGXO37icBaE [Accessed 10 Jan. 2017]. YouTube. (2017). Traditional
Maltese Tile. [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGXO37icBaE [Accessed 10 Jan. 2017].
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