The Maltese are a nation of hoarders, Robert Attard tells Veronica Stivala. This characteristic is showcased in valuable private collections.

Collecting is in the DNA of the Maltese, says Robert Attard, a lawyer and amateur historian. We are a nation of hoarders, he adds, commenting how it is not surprising that there are so many quality artefacts in Malta.

Together with co-author Romina Azzopardi, Attard recently published Antiquing in Malta: The De Vallette Helmet and Other Finds. As the title implies, this publication documents some of the fascinating treasures the authors came across during their research.

Among these finds from private collections are items similar to those found in famous international museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum. In fact, some collections incorporate items which have been deaccessioned from museums and sold by public auction, finding themselves in private collections. That said, they naturally still remain valuable and because collections change hands, Attard advises that they are properly catalogued because valuable information can easily get lost with time.

Antiquing in Malta by Robert Attard and Romina Azzopardi.

Antiquing in Malta takes readers on a fascinating journey through various artefacts of historical significance that had been hidden away. These range from rare Romano-Maltese coins and ancient artefacts to precious pieces of Maltese silver and furniture and unpublished portraits of Knights.

Indeed a 16th century portrait of Grand Master L’Isle Adam is one of the star finds in this publication because it reveals the real face of this historical protagonist. The portrait was brought to Attard’s attention by a collector with whom he researched the picture. This led to the discovery of the painting’s fascinating history and the two traced its provenance back to the 18th century. It used to belong to politician and historian Horace Walpole and they found a manuscript which showed the exact place where Walpole kept his portrait of L’Isle Adam.

“Before the publication of that portrait we did not know the real face of Grand Master L’Isle Adam, as his other portraits were executed many years after his death,” Attard explains. Yale University has since shown great interest in this portrait.

What makes this book so special is its contemporaneity – its contents are what they are precisely because the mechanics of collecting have changed in the past 20 years.

“Before the internet, our reach was very limited because researching antiques is a bit like hunting and fishing. We originally used to hunt in a garden and fish in a pond. Our market was restricted to local auctioneers and dealers and very few international auction houses.”

The collector’s gut feeling told him that underneath the dirty painting was a hidden gem

The internet has changed all this. Nowadays, most auctioneers and dealers use online catalogues and there is a direct rapport with private sellers too. Attard gives as an example the de Rohan musket. His book tells the story of how he had noticed this musket in a Parisian arms fair catalogue a few years ago and it then reappeared at an Italian auctioneer and was bought by an institutional collector. It deserves further research.

This 18th century document signed by Grand Master Hompesch reveals that he was friendly with the De Beauharnais family, Napoleon Bonaparte’s future in-laws.

Another pleasant surprise came in the form of a painting entitled Judith with the head of Holofernes, which auction house Christie’s had attributed to the Circle of Mattia Preti. The collector’s gut feeling told him that underneath the dirty painting was a hidden gem. Technology proved him right and professional cleaning uncovered an important work of art.

It comes as a surprise to learn that this book and all the work behind it is the fruit of a hobby and not a full-time profession. Attard is a lecturer and lawyer specialising in taxation and human rights. Writing is his hobby, although he notes how the two disciplines go hand in hand.

“I believe that knowledge of history makes you a better lawyer because law is a product of history. History helps you understand the evolution of norms,” he says.

Attard was always fascinated by the 18th century, which created major legal concepts. Attard spends his free time researching online inventories and virtual museums.

“Research is a continuous learning experience and is an excellent way of making interesting friendships,” he says. He notes how there is so much uncharted territory, so much to discover and so much to learn. Significant sightings are becoming a regular experience. The identification of an item kick-starts a lengthy research process which involves more online research, consulting books and conversations with veteran researchers.

An untouched 18th century portrait of a Lady Knight of Malta. The sitter is probably Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp, mother of Catherine the Great of Russia.

What has been Attard’s most exciting find?

At the time of the book going to print, he would have said the Montmorency manuscript, a letter appointing a French countess as a Knight of Malta. There is, of course, the De Vallette helmet too which was undoubtedly a significant sighting. Ironically, interesting finds emerged within a few weeks after he published the book.

Attard is researching several outstanding finds, including two objects which may have belonged to two important grand masters, a manuscript which evidences a relationship between Grand Master Hompesch and the De Beauharnais family, a portrait of a lady Knight of Malta, a letter written by French officers during the siege of Valletta and an exceptional sabre.

Research is fun and addictive in a healthy sort of way.

“The more you research, the less you know,” Attard says. He has lost count of all the books he has written – however, not sharing his most recent find with the public would be selfish.

“Researchers should not keep their finds to themselves,” he says

So we can only wait for his next publication.