Book review : Maltese lace. History & mystery. Four centuries of Bizzilla

Abstract

In a socially cosmopolitan and fast-changing society like the one we are experiencing in our islands in this contemporary age of ours, it is becoming quite difficult to say what stands out as quintessentially Maltese. Considering the phenomena of double insularity affecting the smaller island of Gozo, the attempt may present itself as slightly less difficult. In fact, if I were to be asked to mention something which reminds me instantly of my native Gozo, I would most probably refer to Gozo’s lace. A visit to a couple of Maltese websites would reveal that during the 1830’s Queen Victoria ordered sixteen pairs of long and short mittens, and a scarf from Malta. Later on, during the 1840’s she was given a piece of lace by priest Dun Ġwann Curmi, ‘tal-Grotta’ and the same happened on the occasion of her diamond jubilee when she bestowed her name on Gozo’s ancient town of Rabat.