As part of the ongoing ‘Meet the Artisan’ sessions going on at Ta’ Qali’s Craft Village, attendees got to witness Malta’s master gilder, Pawlu Borg Cardona doing what he does best.

During the workshop Pawlu Borg Cardona described and gave a live demonstration of the various techniques he makes use of to apply those thin sheets of metal that you see on most of Malta’s traditional Maltese clocks.

These techniques are not only used on Maltese clock but also on the statues you find across churches all over the islands.

The art of gilding dates all the way back to the time of the ancient Egyptians. The civilisation is believed to have gilded woods and metals as can be observed from many of the objects that have been excavated in recent history.  

Keep an eye out on the Malta Crafts Village website for their next ‘Meet the Artisan’ sessions.