HERALDRY AT PALAZZO FALSON MUSUEM, MDINA

PALAZZO FALSON HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUM IS SPONTANEOUSLY IDENTIFIED WITH MDINA. YOU CANNOT MISS THIS GEM OF A MUSEUM AS YOU WALK ALONG THE NARROW STREETS OF THE OLD CAPITAL CITY OF MALTA.

On my first visit to this House Museum I was immediately impressed by the mosaic of cultural magic that Olof Gollcher bequeathed to the Maltese people. The seventeen rooms in the Palazzo are a showcase of Olof’s versatility as an avid collector of objets d’art, jewellery and furniture. Philanthropy and painting were second nature to Olof as an individual with a strong civic sense.

However, my main interest regarded Olof Gollcher’s decision to decorate the friezes of the Sale Nobili – comprising the Drawing Room, the Sitting Room and the Dining Room on the first floor – with coats of arms and colourful designs of flowers, fruit and foliage. His flair for painting and sketching and his affection for Malta’s history in connection with the period of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem came to the fore in this area.

There are sixteen coats of arms each one with the Order’s flag at the top. Three of them are authentic in design and these belong to Richard Shelley – a diplomat and last grand prior of the knights in England; Oliver Starkey – Latin Secretary to Grand Master de Valette; and William Weston – last prior of the Order in England before the dissolution of the Langue of England in mid-16th century. The rest can be classified as a combination of Olof’s knowledge of the basics of heraldry and, at the same time, of his fertile imagination and talent for painting. They represent a mixture of parts of authentic coats and of parts indicating the importance of colour and shape of the shields.

Delving into the museum’s archives I came across a file containing a series of paper cuttings, sketches and decorations. Following a process of identification and categorisation each item was then wrapped in acid-free paper for conservation. It eventually turned out that most items were replicas of what I saw in the Sale Nobili

Paper cuttings of lions and eagles, and carbon cuttings of coats of arms together with handwritten notes revealed the connection that emerged between items in the public eye and those behind the scene.

However, Olof Gollcher’s colourful life does not end with his ability to paint and to collect. Before purchasing part of the Palazzo in 1927, he had distinguished himself in the British Army having served in both World Wars. He had a particular interest in Underwater Archaeology and the preservation of Maltese historical sites.

Olof was also attracted to Freemasonry. A collection of Freemasonry regalia showcased in the Small Collections Room is evidence to this. It can be revealed from his diaries held in the Archives section of the Pala zzo that he was also a philanthropist extraordinaire.

In view of the diverse items of interest and attraction, there are enough good reasons for a visit or two to the Palazzo.

Anthony Azzopardi was the founder and first Head of the Department of Youth and Community Studies at the University of Malta. He is also a research volunteer at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum.

Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm (last entrance at 4:00pm). Audio guided tours are available in the following languages: Maltese, English, Italian, French, German and Spanish. For inquiries please contact us on +356 21454512 or email bookings@palazzofalson.com.

We recommend that you visit our website and read our health and safety guidelines before visiting the museum: http://www.palazzofalson.com/

Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum is managed by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, a non-profit heritage foundation aiming to spread awareness about our heritage through museums, publications, exhibitions and events.

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