A Guide to Maltese Furniture

Back in the 1960s you could have purchased Maltese furniture relatively cheaply, and if you had you would have been in the tiny minority, because at that time the fashionable thing was to acquire English-made furniture. During this period there was almost an obsession amongst many collectors and dealers that furniture of a higher quality should be branded ‘EM’ (English-made).

Maltese furniture was also overlooked in the 1970s and 80s. However, this all changed in 1989, when Joe Galea Naudi released a hugely influential book 'Antique Maltese Furniture', which essentially changed the landscape for Maltese furniture in terms of both sale and purchase.

The 1990s saw a huge demand for antique Maltese furniture, and from fetching modest-to-poor sums, the furniture was now being shipped all over Europe and the world for eye-watering fees.  The demand for interesting, antique, foreign furniture was here to stay, and thus, the value of Maltese furniture has remained high ever since.

^{A Maltese 18th-century olive wood and walnut serpentine commode.}

^{Sold at Dawsons for £5,600}

Why Maltese furniture may be the investment you have been looking for…

Functionality: Not only have antique pieces of Maltese furniture maintained a high value since their popularity soared in the 1990s, but like other household antique items such as Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica dinner plates, aside from being aesthetically beautiful, antique furniture has a function in that you can use it in your day-to-day life. 

History: An antique piece of furniture, like any antique, conveys a tale. Whilst the history of antique Maltese furniture would imply that it is unlikely to have been in the house or possession of anybody particularly famous, Malta has an incredibly rich and turbulent history, and this fact only adds to the intrigue as to who may have once owned the furniture. Indeed, if you have any interest in the past then antique furniture will fascinate you every time you look at it.

Decoration: Finally, the most obvious reason you might invest in antique furniture is to fill your house with wonderfully decorative items. What better way to display your interest in history and fine art than by having a beautiful piece of furniture in your house? It could be a statement piece alongside modest furniture, or it could be that you have an eclectic set of other antique and ornate furniture. Either way, Maltese furniture is a sure-fire way to improve any room in your house.

 ^{A late 18th-century Maltese walnut and parquetry inlaid chest of drawers.}

^{Sold at Dawsons for £1,600}

How to buy or sell antique Maltese furniturE

It is essential to carry out research before you look to buy or sell.

As with all antiques, you should confirm that the item is authentic. Antique Maltese furniture is selling at a premium, and this being the case, it is important to make certain you are acquiring the genuine article. We would always advise that you buy from a trusted source.

Reputable Auction Houses are an excellent route...

At Dawsons, we strive to provide our clients with the greatest experience possible. With decades of experience, our highly skilled Valuers can state with authority whether an item is authentic or not, helping to put your mind at rest if you are buying with us, and also helping to ascertain the true value of your antique Maltese furniture – if you are looking to sell via Dawsons.

Our valuations are complimentary, costing you absolutely nothing!

The expert team of Valuers at Dawsons would be happy to help you identify, value, market and sell your antique Maltese furniture to a global audience.

Please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you:

0207 431 9445  /  info@dawsonsauctions.co.uk