Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533839
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 MARCH 2025 THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION The Grand Master's Palace experi- ence is set to become even more enriching, thanks to several artefacts recently donated to Heritage Malta by local collector Paul Zammit. These valuable additions will soon be acces- sible to the public, further enhancing the Palace's historical narrative. Comprising one of the largest and best donations that the national col- lection has ever received, the donat- ed items include exquisite artefacts from the 16th to the 18th century, ranging from intricately crafted furniture to paintings, chandeliers, tapestries and damasks. Mr Zammit made this donation both to leave a legacy in his name and to honour the memory of his late parents. The donated collection is now displayed in seven different spaces within the Palace, following lengthy research into how these spaces were used across the centuries and where the donated items fit best to enhance the historical significance of each space. The room that originally served as the Grand Master's personal sitting room and study, for instance, has been enriched by the addition of a rare and remarkable set of two chests of draw- ers and a bureau. Similarly, the Grand Master's bedroom now boasts exqui- site furniture generously donated by Paul Zammit, including a particularly noteworthy 16th-century cupboard featuring intricate poker decoration. Paul Zammit's donation has also been greatly beneficial to the Palace's chapel, since the original furniture items pertaining to this space were disposed of during the French and British period and their location and fate are mostly unknown. Of particu- lar interest for the chapel are two donated 17th-century tapestries illus- trating the discovery of baby Moses in the Nile and Rebekah's meeting with her father-in-law. Both tapestries have been transported to the De Wit Royal Manufacturers in Belgium, to undergo conservation works along- side the other Palace tapestries which started to be treated last year. More items from Mr Zammit's dona- tion may be enjoyed in the Cabinetto di Curiosità, in the Chaplain's bed- room, and inside the hall dedicated to the Order of St Michael and St George. Heritage Malta is the natural home for private collections such as Paul Zam- mit's, as the agency ensures that they are properly taken care of and that they reach new audiences. Through- out 2024, 132 donations were reg- istered with the agency, together amounting to thousands of artefacts and natural specimens, ranging from insect collections to clothes, docu- ments, tools and artistic objects. Noel Zammit, Heritage Malta's Chief Executive Officer, expressed his gratitude for this generous contribu- tion: "We are deeply thankful to Mr Zammit for his invaluable donation. Such donations fill Heritage Malta with new energy – not only because they are strong displays of trust in the agency's work, but also because they aid it greatly in fulfilling its mission of preserving and conserving our na- tional heritage and making it accessi- ble. A mission Heritage Malta cannot achieve in isolation." "These contributions enrich our cultural heritage and strengthen research and exhibitions. Donations of items of historical, cultural, archae- ological, natural, ethnographic or artistic value, are conserved to the highest standards, ensuring they live on to tell their tale to future gener- ations. Such contributions expand the scope for the study and inter- pretation of our past, shedding light on new and previously unexplored facets of our heritage," stated the agency's CEO. For more information on how to donate, visit: https://patronage.herit- agemalta.mt/leave-a-legacy/ Once a private collection, now shared with the world The sitting room (above), the chapel (right) and the bedroom (bottom) in the The Grand Master's Palace have been enriched with several artefacts donated to Heritage Malta by local collector Paul Zammit