Watch Glass Blowing

Witnessing highly-skilled crafts people often makes you wonder about the learning process involved to arrive at the level of competence on display. How many bent pieces of metal are thrown away before a blacksmith makes a perfect horseshoe? How many lumps of clay fly off the wheel on the way to creating a fine china vase? And how many globs of glass are removed from the end of a pipe before a glass blower creates something worthy of selling in a shop?

The art of glass blowing in Malta can be traced back, like an increasing number of things, to the Phoenicians. In fact so many new things are being discovered about the Phoenicians and their civilisation that one day soon the history books could seriously need reviewing.

Phoenician remains have now been found in both North and South America, a scientific fact that must have had the widely-acknowledged discoverer of the continent, Christopher Colombus, turning in his grave.

A third of the Maltese population still have DNA that can be directly linked to this ancient race too, so it is no wonder the island is so deeply attached to that particular epoch of Mediterranean history.

Yes, those pesky Phoenicians certainly left their mark on many aspects of life on these islands.
The dhajsa - water taxi - is said to have evolved from an early Phoenician design, the Maltese language retains minute traces of those early settlers, and the one important key required to decipher their alphabet - a missing link - was actually found on Malta.  

And then there’s glass production, which although a fairly recent addition in Malta has been proved to be present on the islands in Phoenician times.

Entirely mouth-blown and hand finished glassware that is created today is of typical Maltese design in strong Mediterranean colours. The complicated process begins with multi-coloured beads, which are melted and blown into a shape. Clear glass is then placed around the coloured glass and a shape is designed.

This technique produces objects of art with an interesting interplay of colours. And you won’t need us to tell you that they make for ideal gifts or souvenirs of your trip.

Other modern pieces, such as the Picasso-style vases, bowls, statues, perfume bottles and individual beads, are also much desired glass objects.

A visit to one of the glass-making enterprises on the island will help you watch, from a very close distance, this fascinating traditional craft. Not only can you observe the glass blowers at work, but you can also commission customised articles for you engraved with your name, family crest or even your company logo.

Some glass blowers can be seen plying their trade at the Craft Village in Ta’ Qali, which is next to the National Stadium in the centre of the island close to Attard.