Labour MP buys Borg Olivier's old desk for €25,000
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
Former Prime Minister George Borg Olivier’s personal desk was today auctioned for €25,000.
The desk was one of 307 items belonging to the late Dr and Mrs Borg Olivier which went under the hammer at the couple’s 19th century house in Borg Olivier Street, Sliema. It was bought by a Labour MP Anton Refalo.
The auction, led by auctioneer Pierre Grech Pillow from Obelisk, lasted five hours and ranged from paintings, furniture, figurines to chinaware.
The prices obtained ranged from €100 to around €38,000 for a bookcase.
Some 200 people made bids on site, others bid by telephone.
Those present included Heritage Malta specialists who were representing the agency to buy auction items they considered enhanced the national collection at the “hammer price”. That included a gift to Dr Borg Olivier by an Apollo crew which went to the moon.
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Pule' Carmel
Jun 29th 2010, 20:31
As a person who was sired from a family of mastercraftsmen, there is a tacit component in all these comments that worries me. Many people suffer from an interesting phenomenon which I call " THE PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP" they are proud to OWN IT rather proud to know how to MAKE IT. If the owner a work or art receives so many compliments for being an art collecter and an OWNER of art, I wonder if we all should give a one minute silence as tribute to THE MASTERCRAFTSMAN WHO MADE IT. The pooor bugger, I bet no one even knows his name.
And incidentally, It is worthwhile to remember that whatever we own , we can never take it with us when we pass away, irrispective of the magnificence and splendour of the entities we OWN. And it is for that reason that I intend to ask for a TATTO to be scribed on part of my body, for as far as I see , it is the only type of art we get so closely attached to, and the only type of art we can take with us , it is inseparable!!
Lydia Pace Workman
Jun 29th 2010, 14:27
@ Marcel Dingli. It is rather arrogant of you to generalize by a statement that there are no Nationalists who agree with the present PN. This is my take on your comment. Despite the veracity of the fact that one government elected for decades has a tendency to become comfortable and lose the sense of uncertainty in an election outcome,check the opposition history in power and the lack of evidence that things may be different in a positive way should the LP gain control of the government in the next round! Most countries with only two major parties face the same dilemma as Malta, however, the possibility of reverting back to the disastrous form of control that the LP will dish out if they were in power, is a nightmare that Malta needs to not to have to wake up to.
Marcel Dingli
Jun 29th 2010, 17:00
Those would not be the true Nationalists. They would only be siding with the PN. They would be ex Stricland , ex Boffa, ex Ganado, ex Pellegrini. No its not arrogant of me, its the truth. However the truth hurts.
Carmel Cilia
Jun 29th 2010, 07:32
In my opinion the government should have bought this item as itis a national heritage. it could have used themoney from the unclaimed prices fund for this scope. But no the finance minister would rather use this fund as bait before an election time rather than support a heritage cause. May be the Nationalist present administration is still harbouring the same sentiment against The then prime minister as happened in that macabre house in valletta in i977. Who knows?
Jesmond Abela
Jun 28th 2010, 20:40
@ Marcel Dingli....... bla bla bla bla............dejjem listess diska (since 1977) 33 sena shah lol. M'hemmx li tbiddlu naqra diska madoff. Possibli ghadek ma indunajtx li poplu xeba jisma gideb u qlajjiet. Forsi ghadek ma ndunajtx li PN ilu fil gvern since 1987(23 sena nieqes 22 xahar) u allura kull ma tghid huwa xejn hlief paroli fil vojt.
Marcel Dingli
Jun 29th 2010, 12:08
Ichad dak li ghidt jien . Paroli fil vojt xejn. L ebda nazzjonalist ta veru f sensieh ma jaqbel mal PN tal lum. Int tahseb li bl attitudni tieghek ser jigbdu nies lura lejn il partit. X arroganza !
Jesmond Abela
Jun 29th 2010, 16:59
Sur Dingli....... nichad? Din hi il verita u l-figuri li semmejt jiena huma verita u fatti. Kif nista nichad il verita?! Il kliem tieghek huma biss paroli fil vojt Sur Dingli , huwa inutli li tghid li ma sibx nazzjonalist f'sensih li jaqbel mal PN tal lum. Titfa statement hekk nahseb lilek ma jamilx gieh. Ma min tridu poplu jaqbel mela? Mal PL ? Ma dan il partit "gdid" ? Partit li huwa mifxul u mohhu biss biex jara kif se jerbah il voti u jitfa il bzar fuq il verita imbasta li jerbah elezzjoni li gejja. Il PL huwa biss partit bla dirrezzjoni ta xejn, bla konsistenza ta xejn u bla vizjoni ta xejn. Ahna kburin bil mexxejja KOLLHA tal PN. Min naha l-ohra il partit laburista ma tantx huwa kburi bil mexxejja precedenti ..... BOFFA ? MINTOFF ? KMB ? ALfred SANT ? Sur Dingli lispizjar milli jkollu itik ..... mhux hekk!?
Marcel Dingli
Jun 29th 2010, 18:50
L ispizjar int Sur Abela. Min dahhal il partit laburista fin nofs ? Ichad li minn zmien is sittinijiet kien hemm konfoffa kontra Borg Olivier. Ichad li 20 deputat fil parlament ivvotaw kontra Borg Olivier. Ichad li l Borgolivirjani gew imqaccta kollha mill PN. Ichad li il PN resaq lejn ix xellug estrem, u bi ftahir ukoll. Ichad lil konfonffa ta strada federico l Belt. Kull ma semmejt bil figuri tieghek li l anti Mintoff lobby ilu fil gvern tant snin. Qabda ex Boffisti, ex Stricklandjani, ex Ganadjani u ex ta Pellegrini, u nies li ghax jidhrilhom huma haduha kontra Mintoff. Ilu ma jkollna Gvern Nazzjonalista, u mhux ser ikollna ghal issa zgur, ghax l ahhar Leader Nazzjonalist kien Borg Olivier. Meta jinbidlu l affarjiet, mbghad ikollna Gvern Nazzjonalista.
Jesmond Abela
Jun 28th 2010, 19:40
I am sure some guys have money to pay the electricity bills, so please stop moaning about the bills that you receive for using the energy!!!!!! Min ghandu il bzar ha roxxu. i do love maltese antique furniture but definately im not in a position to spare 25,000 euro on a desk. Viva il partit tal haddiema
M Grech
Jun 28th 2010, 19:37
I have always voted PN, but as its more then evident that PN are not proud of their great former leader who was the Architect of Indipendent Malta, this time i will vote labour!! Shame on PN!! Prosit tassew MP Anton Refalo who has shown his love for our national heritage!!
Jesmond Abela
Jun 28th 2010, 20:02
Kumment vera ta dahk ...... LOL Mur emmnek li int nazzjonalist u se tivvota labour issa, u se tafda id destin tieghek u tal familja ghax IL PN ma xtarax id desk ta EX mexxej tieghu. Halluna nghixu tridu. Tal Labour jippruvaw jaghmlu minn kollox biex jirbhu xi vot (Min ghalihom)
Marcel Dingli
Jun 28th 2010, 20:15
The PN is not only not proud of Giorgio, but they backstabbed him, conspired against him, and tried to eradicate his memory and all those who supported him. The PN is no longer the Nationalist Party we once knew and no true supporter of Gorg Borg Olivier can really vote PN with his heart. This has been said many times, the PN now is a socialist quasi communist party, where labour is more right wing and conservative. It had been brewing for a long time, and a change in the name and badge of the party were being contemplated. The change never materialised for conveniance sake.
James De Giorgio
Jun 28th 2010, 22:31
That was always the labourites' problem; they think we're idiots just because they gullibly accept all that they are told by their party
M.Bartolo
Jun 28th 2010, 17:23
@R.Borg & Alfred Camilleri I don't think that because MP Anton Refalo had eur 25,000 to spare on a desk you can state that there is no poverty in Malta. So because some rich man ownes a megavilla somewhere in Malta then everyone is rich or because Bill Gates is one of the world's wealthiest people, in America there is no poverty? I think you should get in touch with reality!
J.Bonnici Buhagiar
Jun 28th 2010, 15:22
Akkwist Impezzabbli!! Awgurri w Prosit.
Victor Vella
Jun 28th 2010, 14:08
According to Dr Victor Regonesi, the late Dr G. B. Olivier, then PM of Malta , had no money to his funeral!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kurt G Pace
Jun 28th 2010, 15:06
I don't think you are correct and nor in a position to comment on the financial position of the Borg Olivier family. Shame on anyone who tries to ridicule this family. It is none of anyone's business what, how, if, when the heirs of the Borg Olivier family (or any other family) decide what to do with their bellongings.
Karl Consiglio
Jun 28th 2010, 11:32
As far as I know it was Apollo 13, therefore it did not make it to the moon. Anyway who took that?
Gordon Caruana Dingli
Jun 28th 2010, 15:24
Apollo 13 was supposed to land on the moon but there was an explosion and it circled the moon before returning to earth.
So the article is correct, Apollo 13 'went' to the moon but did not land.
Antoine Vella
Jun 28th 2010, 11:16
25 thousand euros would have helped many families "at risk of poverty". And there is the Community Chest Fund too.
R.Borg
Jun 28th 2010, 11:13
I thought there was poverty in Malta.
No, I have been misled
L. Calleja
Jun 28th 2010, 11:02
I hope that MP Anton Refalo will donate the desk to the Maltese National Heritage or another national museum and not just keeping it for himself. Let us see how much does this MP really respects the Maltese people.
Alfred Camilleri
Jun 28th 2010, 10:55
If Labour MP Anton Refalo bought Borg Olivier's desk with 25 thousand euros.......so we shall not believe the Leader of the Opposition when he says that we are in a bad state under a Nationalist government!
Joseph Buttigieg Attard
Jun 28th 2010, 10:01
@ Dr Anoton Refalo ... Prosit tassew! We Gozitans are proud of you!
@Bezzina .. I wonder what was the motive behind your blatant 'mistake. calling Dr Anton Refalo 'ex NP Pm'!!! I wonder indeed!
Please do your 'simple' homework and publicly apologise to us readers and to Dr Anton Refalo! This is a must.! I
Jesmond Abela
Jun 28th 2010, 20:08
Can you please explain why the Gozitans should be proud of him??? Sa fejn naf jien Dr Refalo xtara l-ghamara biex izomma fid dar tieghu(nisperaw li ghalinqas tibqa fil gzejjer Maltin). Jekk ikun il kaz li Dr A Refalo jirregala lil xi muzew Ghawdxi hemmhekk naqbel mieghek u nghidulu GRAZZI u PROSET. But i very much doubt it.
Antoine Sant
Jun 28th 2010, 09:49
It is patently evident that the Labour side are more appreciative of this piece of history than the Nationalists. Shame on the Nationalists for losing a golden opportunity to acquire this unique item.
l fenech
Jun 28th 2010, 08:16
Prosit Anton.
G Caruana Dingli
Jun 28th 2010, 00:19
If heritage Malta purchased the space mementos for the Nation that is excellent news.
There were three objects that were presented to the PM by the three Apollo 13 astronauts who visited Malta in October 1970:
The first was a plaque with a piece of the heatshield of the Apollo 13 command module. There is a brass plaque with a barely legible dedication.
The second is a framed photograph of the same Apollo 13 CM descent through the clouds. This is signed by the three astronauts Lovell, Swigert and Haise.
The third is a x 20 magnified photograph of a silicon disc left on the moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts in July 1969. The disc includes messages by various world leaders including one by George Borg Olivier.
Heritage Malta owns a moon rock collected by Apollo 11 that deserves to be better exhibited.
Unfortunately the Apollo 17 moon rock that was exhibited at the Natural History Museum was stolen about six years ago.
An Apollo 13 'descent' photograph was also presented to Archbishop Gonzi, I wonder where it is !
G.Schembri
Jun 27th 2010, 23:10
Me C Bezzina , didn't know that there was a gozitan PN MP who changed sides. I was always under the impression that Anton Refalo was a Labour MP. Was he with the PN prior 1996? I just checked with the DOI site and found that Anton Refalo has been contesting with the Labour Party since at least 1996, while Anton Tabone contests with the PN.
C Bezzina
Jun 27th 2010, 22:29
Ex Nationalist MP bought Dr Borg Olivier's desk.
Appollo 13 was a personal gift.
C Hili
Jun 27th 2010, 22:07
As a gozitan I feel honoured to have the personal desk of the late prime minister Gorg Borg Olivier obtained by a gozitan. Well done Anton.
J. Schembri
Jun 27th 2010, 21:56
Kemm hawn min jghid cucati. Ara familja li jkolla dawn l-affarijiet prezzjuzi kollha x'se taghmel bihom! Tghid mhux se joqghodu jinxurjaw u jfarfru dawn il-memorji ghal wicc in-nies!
Il-familja diga qalet li se taghti xi affarijiet lil is-stat , mhux ghax hi obbligata.
Min jaf kemm minn dawn li kkumentaw kienu jhallu dal-patrimonju kollu f'dar u ma' jaghmluhx flus!
martin saliba
Jun 27th 2010, 20:53
Gifts given to GBO , such as that by the apollo 13 crew , while he was prime minister are property of the maltese people. How were they allowed tl be sold ?
paul azzopardi
Jun 27th 2010, 21:47
I agree 100 per cent. I am still waiting for someone to inform me about the apollo 13 memento. In 2004 thieves stole the apollo 11 moonrock from the natural museum at Mdina, now we are being deprived of this unique item. shame on all who let these things happen. What are we leaving to future generations. I was of the opinion that presents given officially are to remain public property. My mind bogles sometimes at such un-patriotism and unfairness.
Dylan Olliver
Jun 27th 2010, 20:47
Shame on the PN and the government for not buying Dr Borg Olivier's desk. A Labour MP bought it !!
C. Muscat
Jun 28th 2010, 09:18
Anton Refalo is a keen collector of antiques, especially Maltese made. That he bought this desk has verly little to do with love for Borg Oliver and much more to do with what he thinks is a good investment - I know him well through the auctions that we both attend
MSciberras
Jun 28th 2010, 11:15
What does this have to to do with politics? Anton Refalo loves and appreciates our national heritage. May there be many more like him in our beloved islands
J. Grima
Jun 28th 2010, 22:17
What a joke of a comment, seems like people like you have yet to grow old and rot till this country takes a fresh breath of corrupted politics.
paul azzopardi
Jun 27th 2010, 19:46
Can someone enlighten me where did the Apollo 13 memento finish?
c. camilleri
Jun 27th 2010, 19:40
It is a pity that this had to happen. Were i one of the family i would have turned Gorg's residence into a museum in memory of this glorious person. But perhaps there are reasons which we do not know.
S Caruana
Jun 27th 2010, 19:38
What a Shame!!!! L-ikbar Prim Ministru li qatt kellha Malta, l-iktar wiehed mahbub min kullhadd, l-iktar wiehed umli li qatt kellna, l-iktar wiehd li hadem ghal pajjizu u fuq kollox li b'tant hidma ghamel lil Malta Indipendenti.
Dan ma kienx xeraq....
.
A.Busuttil
Jun 27th 2010, 18:30
hasra why?
that was the wish of the family.
No one from the PN came to salvage these items.
It is clear that The PN are not any more interested in the memory of their ex leader. I am sure that they could have found a hall( in their headquaters) and turn it into Bor Olivier memobilia but as I said they were not interestead.
j.schembri
Jun 27th 2010, 18:16
possibli li l-familja Borg Olivier ma hassitx li ghanda tirregala xi ftit mill-affarijiet ta dan il-Prim Ministru hekk kbor lil P.N. Sal-lum ma smajna xejn dwar xi ghotja. Tajjeb il-poplu ikun jaf dwar dan. Jekk ma jinghata xejn lil P.N. jindika li r-relazzjonijiet bejn iz-zewġ nahat baqaw ma gew ghan-nornmal qatt wara dak li kienu ghamlu lil Borg Olivier sabiex minfloku issir Fenech Adami. Il-bniedem jahfer imma ma jinsa qatt
D. Borg
Jun 27th 2010, 18:11
Shame!
John Micallef
Jun 27th 2010, 16:50
X'hasra!!
carmel camilleri
Jun 27th 2010, 21:54
prosit Dr Anton Refalo.Kien jixraq li id desk ta Dr Gorg Borg Olivier jigi Ghawdex.Dr Borg Olivier kellu konnesjoni ma Ghawdex. In nannu tieghi, Gorg ta randu mir Rabat Ghawdex kien jghid, li Dr Borg Olivier kien iservi ta Nutar Ghawdex, minn ufficcju minn Castle Hill , ir Rabat Ghawdex. u wara kien imur gol hanut tan nannu tieghi go Pjazza Savina u jiehu il cafe mall bdiewa ghawdxin. Daqshekk kien habib ghawdxin Dr Borg Olivier.Prosit mill gdid Anton, jien cert likull Ghawdxi ha pjacir u kburi, li desk ta persuna hekk importanti gie Ghawdex