Stepping inside the recently-launched permanent exhibition at Palazzo De Piro, titled Tools, Trades and Traditions, is a bit like taking a step back in time to be introduced to a fascinating world where painstaking detail was everything and everyone – from a seamstress to a farmer – took pride in their work.

The exhibition, which is the brainchild of Justin Zammit Tabona, is the result of months of hunting at various antiques and second-hand markets, as well as follow-up research.

“My father started the collection years ago. We’d go hunting around markets every Sunday, after morning Mass.The collection gradually grew. Then, recently, we acquired another private collection that shows all the tools of the trade that are related to carpentry.

“I decided that we needed to do something with all these items and, slowly, the idea for this exhibition was born,” Zammit Tabona said.

Research and cataloguing started in earnest, with curator Guillaume Dreyfuss from Architecture Projects and Infinitely Xara director Justin Zammit Tabona trying to come up with the best way to house all the trades under one roof.

The end result is a comprehensive look at Maltese traditions divided into various rooms and sections, each offering some fascinating information and backstory about the exhibits.

“We researched every item’s provenance, in the process learning about how things got passed on from generation to generation.

“In a private collection many people do not often realise the value of the individual items. Many of the exhibits are an intriguing example of beauty and functionality,” Zammit Tabona said.

The old system of weights. Right: One of the many sections at the exhibition.

Every single item went through a painstaking restoration process. Painstaking, because the idea was not to get them looking like new, but to allow the wear and tear to come through in a way that befits items that have been lovingly used by their owners.

The exhibition is divided into several rooms and, if you want to truly appreciate its various sections, it is best to set aside a decent amount of time for viewing.

The exhibition is divided into several rooms and, if you want to appreciate the various sections, it is best to set aside a decent amount of time for viewing

Upon entering, viewers are greeted by a Precision and Ornament section showcasing various tools and artefacts related to arts and crafts. The topics range from watchmaking to sewing, lacemaking, silver-smithing, guild­ing and ironing, among others.

Of particular fascination is the sewing section, with its weird and wonderful contraptions the use of which is unlikely to occur to the casual viewer without any help.

The ironing section, too, holds some wonders – one can’t help but marvel at the precision with which these trades used to be practised.

The next area is dedicated to the art of building, with sections dedicated to masonry, an incredible collection of wooden mallets, some architectural ironmongery and a simply lovely collection of exhibits related to locksmithing.

It is in the latter section that the differences from today’s lifestyles are really evident.

Of particular interest to those who have to heart all things organic is the ‘From the field to the table’ area, dedicated, as the name suggests, to food-related traditions.

Of particular note, besides all the farming tools, is the kitchen with its authentic, olde-worlde equipment. Do have a look at the little fridge. You will wonder how on earth anyone survived in those days.

Equally mind-boggling is the Measuring Our World area – the selection of weights, volumes and distances is fascinating.

All the old measures are there – the way people managed in those days without across-the-board consistency is indeed difficult for the viewer to grasp.

Finally, we come to an area dedicated simply to Traditions, all those different aspects of life that people cherished, from religion to fireworks and other everyday rituals.

The part pertaining to tradition will elicit many a trip down memory lane, with various artefacts some of which were in use till not too long ago.

This exhibition offers a fascinating insight into a world that is long gone, a world that was maybe more difficult to live in, but also – to a certain extent – more genuine and simple.

Make sure you get the accompanying literature on your way into the exhibition, which is housed in a new, underground wing of Palazzo de Piro. It will help make sure that you don’t miss out on anything.

www.palazzodepiro.com