An important collection of fine arts and antiques will go under the Obelisk Auctions hammer this week.The entire collection of a private estate will be auctioned off as instructed by the heirs of the late Paul Mallia. The sale also includes some items from private collections.The prestigious estate includes a number of impressive objets d’art and a selection of antique paintings collected over many years. Paintings include masterpieces by W.E. Atkins, G. Pullicino, G. Gianni and L.M. Galea. Also up for grabs are varied engravings, religious and topographical paintings, a pair of Schranz watercolours, works by Willie Apap and a rare bozzetto by Briffa. The G. Gianni paintings provide a particularly interesting highlight – a signed set of four oils on board depicting Indian troopers in Malta, Italian folk, scenes of Egypt and scenes of Constantinople, dated 1876.The selection of European as well as 17th- and 18th-century Maltese furniture to go under the hammer includes a variety of specimens, chief of which are an 18th-century Maltese bureau and side table, as well as a revolving drum top table in olive wood, still fully functional. You may be tempted to carry away some other kind of eclectic object – a rare Maltese clock (Tal-Lira), or a precious collection of delicately executed oriental figures in pre-ban ivory. For those with a fixation for books and history, there is a rare 18th-century set of four volumes by Vertot – History of the Knights of Malta’. Maltese Melitensia enthusiasts can look forward to a selection of out-of-print publications, all of which are now collectors’ items. There will also be silver, glass, porcelain, maiolica and carpets. In all, this auction provides a cross section of some of the most important and impressive items to bid on in Malta.

The auction will be held at Villa Templar, Lord Strickland Street, Attard. Viewings will take place tomorrow, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. Lots 1 – 300 to be auctioned on Saturday and lots 301 – 516 will be auctioned on Sunday from 2.30 p.m. onwards.