Malta’s ecclesiastical heritage is a veritable wonder. What with all the intricate décor and breath-taking works of art, entering a church on the island is an experience, guaranteed to have a lasting effect. An ancient tradition which is arguably unique to the island and intrinsically linked to religious art and devotion is that of church modelling, whereby miniature churches are lovingly set up by enthusiasts in their homes, and they too are as fascinating as their life-sized counterparts.

The tradition was at risk of being lost in the quickly modernising Malta of the 80s and 90s, but an unlikely twist of events saw a resurgence in its popularity, which today is enjoying a new-found revival.

“The COVID-19 pandemic restricted us all to our homes. It was hard on everyone, not least for festa enthusiasts who saw their summers roll by, unable to celebrate their much-loved traditions. That is when many reached out to their old altar set from their childhood, and set it up again,” explains Mario Cassar of Saulus Religious Articles in Valletta, making reference to the small, hand-made altar found in many homes in the past, that was handed down from one generation to the other, and embellished with damask, flowers, statues and chandeliers, often resembling the local parish church.

Mario is synonymous with this hobby as, together with his sister Milda, he runs one of the few surviving shops that caters for this passion on the island. Indeed, Saulus, opposite the St Paul Shipwrecked church in Valletta, is a meeting point for all those who love miniature statues, religious articles, and anything vaguely related. And Mario himself is always keen to help and guide veterans and buddying aficionados alike.

“For me it is a passion that I have nurtured all my life. I remember helping my dad set up the Nativity crib. He would go into so much detail that he’d get lost in that tiny world, and while our neighbours would be making their way to midnight mass on Christmas Eve, he would still be adding the finishing touches,” Mario reminisces.

“It wasn’t long till I started setting up my own little statues – first it was the Good Friday set and then everything else! I am proud to say that in 1973, I even set up what was possibly one of the first Lenten-time exhibitions in the very workshop I work from today. I wasn’t much more than a boy back then, but my passion was already great.”

Today Mario has one of the island’s largest miniature statue collections, counting close to 1,000 pieces. “It is a collection I have built over many years. Suffice it to say, some 200 of them are ‘St Pauls’ – all unique and one-off pieces which I bought, commissioned, and acquired over the years,” the devout Pawlin continues.

Saulus was a natural progression for Mario, opening the small shop in 2000. “Looking back, I can’t believe it’s already been 23 years.”

The shop stocks all sorts of miniature religious articles for all occasions. From minute Nativity sets no larger than a couple of centimetres, to larger sets depicting the Way of the Cross, replicas of Malta and Gozo’s titular statues, miniature altar-ware in shiny faux silver, clay figurines, and all other religious ornaments one could think of.

“We import some of the stock ourselves from Germany – very high-quality articles, for which the more sophisticated aficionados go crazy.”

But probably, Saulus’ battle horses are the ad hoc pieces Mario himself crafts with great dedication and love. As a master tailor, having led entire teams in Malta’s booming textile industry of the 70s and 80s, Mario’s trade and impeccable attention to detail have allowed him to establish himself as the undisputed supplier of such miniature ornaments.

“Very often you are trusted with fabrics that cost hundreds of euro per metre, which can be extremely nerve-wrecking. That’s why I always create a pattern with paper first, which I then transfer on a lower-quality fabric to see that it all comes together nicely – only to move to the actual refined material at a very last stage,” Mario explains.

The hobby appears to be seeing a modest revival lately, with 3D printing even making an appearance. “3D printing is a legitimate solution to create these miniature articles, but the real enthusiast isn’t likely to settle for something which ultimately will be made of plastic. The time and care that go into creating something the traditional way will more likely be appreciated, and we are more than happy to cater for that,” Mario concludes.

This feature forms part of The Laid Back Series by GuideMeMalta.com. Bringing to light unique characters, local traditions, and the beauty of old Malta, we search every corner of the Maltese islands to find the most unique of stories that are sure to delight and bring a sense of nostalgia to our readers.

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