The Salesians of Don Bosco in Malta are organising a grand sale of fine selection of Sicilian ceramics and cribs from Sciacca, together with items of antique furniture.

The sale will take place at St Patrick's Salesian School, St John Bosco Street Sliema from the Wednesday 30 November until Sunday 4 December, from 10am to 7pm.

All proceeds will go for the boys of St Patrick's Salesian School. Parking will be available in the school grounds. This a unique opportunity to the Christmas presents with a difference. The event will be officially opened by Gilbert Gatt.

The ceramics that will be on sale hail from the workshop of Prof. Nino Cascio, who in the past years has exhibited his artistic works in Malta several times. Prof Cascio grew up in a family of ceramics craftsman. He has been practicing his artistic talents since the 1960s.

Graduated as Craftsman Master, he has also been teacher of plastic subjects at the Art Institute of Sciacca. He is specialised in modelling statues of ceramics, decorative panels, mural plates and Sicilian alborelli. His work is in traditional colours and decorations.

Prof. Cascio has taken part in the main national and international exhibitions such as:  Caltagirone, Faenza, Bari, Genova, Dublino, Monaco, Francoforte, New York, Bulgaria and Malta, always collecting great successes.

Sciacca ceramics date back to Medieval times, as evidenced by the various fragments of pottery discovered in the town. The ceramics of Sciacca highlight a unique personality in style and decorative beauty known as the best produced in Sicily, but are different from those of Caltagirone and Santo Stefano di Camastra, both in Sicily.

Historians refer to Malta because of the Order of the Knights of Malta, who used to order their ceramics from Sciacca, especially decorative vases for pharmaceutical use. Various vases from Sciacca can be found in museums and palaces across Malta.

Today one can find about 40 workshops of famous ceramic artists in Sciacca, and there are whole families who dedicate their lives to artistic ceramics and provide a great attraction to visitors.