This reproduction of a rare Maltese silver sugar basin dating back to the early 19th century was hand shaped from sterling silver. Of unusual oval shape, this sugar bowl is plain in design and elegantly set on four feet mounted on orbs, with foliage cartouche above. The plain body is enriched with a cast ram head motif on either side and richly adorned with a handcrafted stylised foliate final on the cover.
Width 13 cm
Height 16 cm
©Inigo Taylor
©Inigo Taylor
©Inigo Taylor
©Inigo Taylor
©Inigo Taylor
Victor Azzopardi
- Jewellery maker
- Birkirkara, Malta
- Master Artisan
- Recommended by Malta Creative Collective
Contact
Maltese, English, French, Italian
Hours:
By appointment only
By appointment only
Phone:
+356 99896493
+356 99896493
©Inigo Taylor
Malta's last silversmith
- • Victor’s ancestors began crafting silver in the 1800s
- • His first crafted piece was a cameo brooch
- • He likes each handcrafted piece to tell a story
Victor Azzopardi has almost five decades of experience in silversmithing, and is the only master silversmith left still practising in Malta. He inherited an interest in the craft from his family, which is renowned for creating some of the most refined and intricate pieces of silverware on the island since the 1800s. From his early teens, he has been honing and perfecting his silversmithing skills, beginning as an apprentice to some of the most experienced local masters of the craft in the 1970s and 80s before moving to Italy and the United Kingdom to continue his studies. He blends the contemporary with the traditional by reproducing silver artefacts that were originally created in the 17th and 18th centuries using age-old techniques, all while adapting the wares to contemporary living. He is driven by the desire to create appreciable and timeless silver artefacts.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: ©Inigo Taylor
Maltese Sugar Bowl
Photo: ©Inigo Taylor
Chamber Candlestick
This reproduction of an antique piece dating back to the 18th century was shaped from sterling silver. The Chamber Candlestick was widely used ever since the 17th century and was considered an essential household item. The flat circular base referred to as the wax pan, is ornamentally shaped with a cast design and contains a central socket with sconce to hold the candle. To the side, the handle and thumbpiece allow easy handling.
Height 6 cm
Diameter 16.5 cm
Photo: ©Inigo Taylor
Maltese Boat ~ Dghajsa tal-Latini
Boats were the main means of transportation between the island of Malta and its sister island Gozo, for centuries. Painted in shades of green, blue, red and yellow, the Maltese boat has become one of Malta’s most revered symbols. Handcrafted in solid sterling silver on hand carved wooden base, the artefact is a finely detailed faithful reproduction of the Maltese sailing boat and is testimony to skilled craftsmanship.
Height 33 cm
Width 27 cm
Photo: ©Inigo Taylor
Hand-Held Fan ~ Palju
The “Palju” is a traditional Maltese handheld fan made with hand woven cane, widely used by men in the 20th century. Victor Azzopardi has come up with an innovative design to blend two ancient Maltese crafts: silversmithing and cane weaving, thus creating an artefact that portrays simplicity in the form of luxury and which reflects the fusion of past and present. The fan is functional and practical to use and makes an ideal keepsake gift that will last through time
Length 29 cm
Photo: ©Inigo Taylor
King size Maltese coffee pot
This King size Maltese coffee pot is one of the aces in Victor Azzopardi’s collection. It boasts a majestic presence with its plain pear-shaped body standing on three hoof feet dressed with oval wreath-cartouche above. The spout is embellished with chased laurel swags on the neck. A solid acorn finial adorns the raised lid with scroll thumb piece, leading down to a hand carved ebonised handle.
Height 30 cm
Width 20 cm
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