Watch Lace-making

Like every human being, Queen Victoria had her good moods and her bad ones. The monarch famed for her stiff upper lip, who was frequently and famously ‘not amused’, was not an easy one to please. However, if you did want to get her grinning like Angelina Jolie’s spray tan man then you had only to present her with some fine Maltese lace!

The story goes that she once received an example of the intricate piece of handcrafted fabric as a gift. It was among the objects sent from Malta to the 'Exhibition of Industries' held in London during 1881. At the time she was obviously in one of her better humours because she instantly fell in love with the delicate work of art and let everyone know. As a result, Maltese lace became famous almost overnight. If it was good enough for the Queen … !

It actually became so successful that popular Maltese designs were eventually copied and sent to China for mass production. What was good for Her Imperial Majesty was also good for the ordinary citizens of the empire, and Maltese lace-making prospered to a considerable degree.

It is a craft that is still flourishing today, aided and abetted by the island’s thriving tourist industry. But of course Maltese lace-making goes back much further. It can trace its origins to Venice in the 16th century - ‘needle lace’ as it was called in those days. Lace manufacture continued on the island until the 19th century when the depression that descended upon the islands nearly led to its extinction.

Other than Queen Victoria's seal of approval, two other people are known to be responsible for introducing and promoting lace in these islands in the mid 1800s. Lady Hamilton Chichester sent lace makers to Malta from Genoa, where the technique of Italian bobbin lace was developed. They used the old needle lace patterns and turned them into similar creations using bobbins, instead of the slower, time-consuming needles.

Over the water, on Gozo, it was the promotion by designer, Dun Guzeppe, that made lace-making a way of raising the standard of living for local families. It wasn't long after its introduction before Maltese/Gozo lace developed its own unique style, distinct from that on the rest of the continent.

A quick stroll through most Gozitan villages can reward you with a glimpse of this folklore. Women proudly sit next to their doorway and charm passers-by demonstrating their traditional lace-making techniques. If you show interest you may even be invited to have a go yourself.   

Although this is very much a traditional Maltese art it is not as widely practised as it was a hundred years ago. However, do not fear, there are still places where you can see it happening. We suggest you go to one of the crafts villages, which are located in Ta' Qali in Malta and in Ghajnsielem in Gozo.