The Baroque 18th-century Villa Bologna and the on-site pottery that bears the same name are inextricably connected through a shared history that spans a century, beginning back in 1924, when the first clay was shaped at St Mary’s Ceramics, as it was previously known.
Throughout all these years, the pottery has remained true to its identity and roots, creating handmade pieces that are at once classic and contemporary, and that have taken pride of place in many a Maltese home, and beyond.
Design Dispatch caught up with Sophie Edwards who, alongside her husband Rowley and the Villa’s heir, Jasper de Trafford – who is the great-grandson of Sir Gerald Strickland, Primer Minister of Malta from 1927 to 1932 and who lived in the Attard residence – have dedicated themselves to preserving and reviving the pottery.
“The pottery is known for its many iconic pieces which include hand made tableware, lamps, vases and decorative pieces. The pottery is famous for the Pineapple and Dolphin Lamps, designed in the 1960s with the artistry of Aldo Cremona,” says Sophie.
Aldo, who was the pottery’s longest-working artist, spent 65 years there, leaving a long legacy of designs, from the scroll to fruit designs and Aldo Fish pieces, which are collectable and unique to Villa Bologna Pottery. Today, the pottery is comprised of a team of 10 artisans.
“He passed away last year and worked at the pottery right until the end of his life. Aldo was deaf and dumb and dedicated his whole life to the pottery,” says Sophie. “Romina Cuschieri has been at the pottery for 24 years – she is a painter and was trained by Aldo, and today is one of our key painters.”
From pieces inspired by nature to hand-painted foliage, the brand’s personality has evolved over its lifetime. Sophie explains how pre-World War II, the designs were more functional, less decorative.
“The majority of our current collections were designed in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Charles Bone, a prominent ceramicist, and his wife, the sculptor Sheila Mitchell arrived in Malta in 1951 to introduce new designs, and this was very much a renaissance period for the pottery,” she explains.
“The Dolphin Lamp and Pineapple Lamp can be attributed to them, while the palm, stripes and scallop designs were introduced by Rowley and I over the past two years. The Luzzu Lamp was an existing decorative piece from the 70s which we turned into a lamp.”
To mark this milestone, Villa Bologna Pottery is launching the Heritage Collection, comprised of a retro fish plate and two platters that have been in their archives for the past 74 years, and are now being reproduced as a limited edition of 100 to celebrate the centenary.
“They were designed during the particularly hot summer of 1950 by a young, now long-forgotten guest at Villa Bologna,” says Sophie. “The cool rooms of the pottery were a reprieve from the heat of the gardens and the busy rooms of the villa, and often guests would take to painting. The archive plates and platters capture the magic of an endless summer spent in a Baroque palazzo during that decade.”
Discussing the brand’s enduring appeal and its continued following after so many years, Sophie says that among other factors, the attention to detail on the pieces makes their ceramics distinctive. “The fact they are handmade means that every single piece is unique. They have been favourites for years and the craftsmanship to make them has been passed on for generations.”
“The technique of their production has not changed and there are no shortcuts. With many ceramics now being mass produced, there are few potteries which still maintain these standards,” says Sophie. “The signature of good design is that it does not follow trends and remains relevant over a long period of time. The pieces are timeless and equally relevant today as they were when they were first produced.”
Sharing her own connections to Villa Bologna Pottery, Sophie says it has always been an important part of her childhood, and when the opportunity presented itself to become involved, it was an exciting prospect.
“My husband, Rowley, and I have always loved interiors and our home is very important to us. We love the craftsmanship, creativity and really enjoy working closely with the team of artists. Being in a position to build on such an extraordinary legacy of design is a privilege,” she says.
And her favourite pieces from the pottery’s archive? “The Dolphin and Pineapple lamps. They are classics, and stand the test of time. The pineapples beside my bed were given to us for our wedding and my parents had the exact same lamps by their bed while I was growing up.”
Workshop & product photography: Rachael Smith
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