Highlights of the month
Silver filigree ladies’ fan
Author
possibly Maltese
Date
1900s
Material
Silver
Size
24 cm
Location
Empire gallery – Giuseppe Calì and Colonial Ambitions
Not much is known about this silver filigree ladies’ fan. It entered the MUŻA collection through the bequest of Magistrate Dr Edgar Parnis in 1913. The intricate filigree work shows the influence of Art Nouveau in the floral motifs and decoration. Although there is the possibility that this fan may be of foreign workmanship, Malta was well known for its filigree. Maltese filigree work was highly praised and often represented in international exhibitions, such as the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London of 1886. This is why this fan and other examples of filigree work are exhibited in the Empire gallery dedicated to the participation of Maltese artists and craftsmen in world Colonial Exhibitions.