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, on St John Bosco Street in Sliema, from 26 to 30 November daily between 10am and 7pm.
The event will be officially opened by Family & Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia. 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 ceramics that will be on sale are coming from the workshop of Prof. Nino Cascio who in the past years has already exhibited his artistic works in Malta several times. Prof Cascio was grown 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 production process involves only traditional colours and decorations. He 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 originated in medieval times, as proved by the various fragments of pottery discovered in the area. The Sciacca ceramics are unique in style and their decorative beauty is among Sicily's finest, if not best, and differs from those of Caltagirone and Santo Stefano di Camastra.
Historians refer to a Sciacca-Malta connection because of the Order of the Knights of Malta used to order their ceramics from Sciacca, especially the decorative vases for pharmaceutical use. Various vases originated from Sciacca can be found in museums and palaces around Malta.
In Sciacca today there are some 40 workshops run by famous ceramic artists, and whole families who dedicate their lives to the art of ceramics.