A set of five stamps being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost plc on 29 December depicts five different examples of traditional Maltese crafts. The stamps, which have been designed by Richard J. Caruana and offset printed by Printex Limited of Qormi on Maltese Crosses watermarked paper, are the first to carry a dual face value, as the euro value is included, this being part of the process for the gradual introduction of the euro into the Maltese islands.

The stamps are 44mm x 31mm in size, with a perforation of 13.9 x 14 (comb), and will be available in sheets of 10. The face values are 8c, 16c, 22c, 37c and 60c.

Throughout the centuries, our people had to provide their own utensils, vessels and tools for daily use. This gave rise to a large number of traditional crafts that created such sundry objects from raw materials which could be found at hand in our countryside. Metals, however, always had to be imported from abroad, as were crafts connected with both noble and base metals.

After the Second World War (1939-45) our islands were gradually inundated with large supplies of imported objects that replaced the traditional ones.

This resulted in traditional Maltese crafts gradually dying out. Luckily, there has been a renewed sense of appreciation for traditional lore. Certain crafts have been revived and taught in special schools, and tourists, foreign residents and local enthusiasts have provided a ready market for most of our traditional products, including handmade souvenirs.

Wrought Iron (8c/e0.19)

Certain blacksmiths in Malta and Gozo specialised in wrought iron gates for gardens and courtyards, intricately designed railings, ornamental balcony and stair balustrades, window guards, grilles, signs, and vanes and finials.

Raw materials consisted of imported wrought iron rods of different cross sections and sizes. Many designs had an international touch, but Maltese craftsmen adapted and created their own designs introducing local motifs such as the eight-pointed Maltese Cross, several sacred emblems for churches and religious houses, and even the initials of house owners. Some fine examples like this guard for a front door semi-circular window or fanlight look like a veritable lace design executed in wrought iron.

Glass-Making (16c/e0.37)

During the late fifties and early sixties of the last century, the British Colonial Administration started promoting the Maltese islands as a distinct tourist destination. Subsequent Maltese governments encouraged the local manufacture of souvenirs for the fast-growing tourist market. Local crafts were given a boost and the year 1968 saw the establishment of the first glass manufacturing firm in Malta specialising in ornamental glass souvenirs. In 1989 another similar firm started operating on the island of Gozo. Local motifs, such as the Maltese Cross, the karrozzin and different Malta scenes soon became a speciality of the Malta firm, while the Gozo firm specialised in the making of general ornamental objects of the finest quality.

Filigree Work (22c/e0.51)

Filigree work (filugranu), together with the making of gold and silver ornamental flower garlands (ganutilja) and embroidery (rakkmu), has now been popular in Malta for centuries. Initially, this work was restricted to the convents, but it was then taken over by goldsmiths and silversmiths working individually in the towns and villages of Malta and Gozo. Filigree items of jewellery consisting of brooches, pendants, earrings, flowers, fans, butterflies and jewel boxes, soon included local motifs like Maltese dghajjes, Gozo boats, karrozzini, the Maltese Cross, dolphins, chairs, Maltese hats, Maltese cannons and other similar objects. The raw materials consists of gold and silver threads of different thickness. Luckily, the teaching of the abovementioned crafts features prominently on the curriculum of our schools of art.

Maltese Pottery (37c/e0.86)

Pottery has been manufactured in Malta ever since the first people crossed over from the neighbouring island of Sicily and settled on this archipelago.

Subsequently, since prehistoric times different peoples of various cultures brought with them different types of pottery, many a time adorned with symbolic ornamental drawings. The raw material for pottery is clay found abundantly in the northern parts of Malta and all over Gozo. Some cultures buried pottery utensils with their dead, thus preserving for our archaeologists fine samples that now adorn our museums. Today, pottery items are still available for sale from various outlets in Malta and Gozo.

Maltese Reed Basketry (60c/e1.40)

Maltese basketry depends on two main types of raw materials, namely dried palm-tree leaves and giant reeds (Arundo donax, Maltese qasab) which grow in abundance in moist and watered valleys in the northern parts of Malta and in the island of Gozo.

Reed baskets are also strengthened and embellished by the interwoven long slender brown twigs of the Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus, Maltese virgija) that is also found growing in our valleys.

Until recently, several different shapes and sizes of reed baskets were used for various purposes.

However, fish-catching pots of different shapes and sizes, made of narrow strips of giant reeds and tall French grass (Festuca elatior, Maltese dis), which originally also grew in our valleys, are still being made by our craftsmen and used by local fishermen.

This set will be on sale from 29 December at all Maltapost postal retail outlets in Malta and Gozo. The stamps will be available as First Day Covers, in mint or cancelled format, and as souvenir folders and presentation packs.

Additional details on this and other issues are obtainable from the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost (tel.: 2123-9153, email: philately

@maltapost.com), or from the Maltapost website: http://www.maltapost.com.