Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542534
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 11 JANUARY 2026 FEATURE navigating through a mass-produced world when moving past in their cars, stop and look, especially when he has something finished outside the shop. "They especially like seeing work like persjani [louvres], be- cause they're made the old way. They always stop to congratulate me for keeping my craft alive". But most of the people who stop, take photos, and admire the work are tourists, he says. "The compliments are never-ending". Nowadays, many consumers frequently opt for furniture that is mass-produced, often for its affordable price and fast pro- duction. These functional pieces require less commitment than custom-made options, making them especially appealing to those who value convenience. We speak about this reality, which for Joe, is a detriment to his craft. He explains how many customers nowadays come to him for repairs on mass-pro- duced furniture, since it often falls short in terms of durability. Sometimes, it is impossible to fix, he concedes. Joe believes that most modern carpentry work is done not by skilled carpenters, but by ma- chine operators who lack the ability to create anything by hand once the machines stop. "When I look at that kind of quality, it's not the same as the quality I be- lieve in," he tells me passionately. "Some people look at price, and others look at standard, the right way." He gladly tells me about a time when he was just 17 years old, al- ready working with a woodworks company, which at the time was commissioned the job of craft- ing the doors and benches of the Courts of Justice in Valletta. These works made use of the wood referred to as 'Afrormo- sia', a type of wood so strong that the tools used on it would often break or bend at the nail. He confidently tells me that few modern-day carpenters would even know what that material is. Apart from creating practical furniture and woodwork, Joe tells me he takes great pride in working on various projects, the one closest to his heart being the 'niċċa' he crafted for the Naxxar Parish Church. "They knew I was picky with my work and that I had good hands," he says humbly. Even his late wife would wonder why he took on the job, since his mind would still be on it long after the workday was over. "My mind was completely tak- en over by that project; it was my work from start to finish. It gave me a headache at times, but the harder the piece of work is, and the more effort it takes, the keen- er I am to take it on", he admits. The same passion was given at the Rabat parish church, where he worked on three antiporti, all done completely by hand. "Whenever I visit the church, I find myself stopping to look at them and admire the detail, be- cause the craftsmanship is beau- tiful. They're just antiporti, but the finesse they have, few people today can produce by hand," he tells me with a sense of pride. Joe acknowledges that he can't produce that kind of work any- more. "My hands shake, and I don't have the patience I once had," he says. But Joe is grateful that his son is drawn to his work, as he was with his father's. For him, it's a reassurance that his craft won't be lost just yet. "He's just like me, the harder the work, the more he throws himself into it, heart and soul," Joe tells me with a look that has etched in it a lifetime of passion for wood and carpentry. Right: Joe Borg, alongside his son who took over the business when he retired. Although Joe never misses a day of being in his garage to work on a thing or two (Photo: James Bianchi/ MaltaToday) Top: Journalist Jade Bezzina stands with Joe Borg as they discuss his legacy, reflected in his shop, one of the few remaining carpentry workshops of its kind on the island (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) "Give me nothing, but give me wood. You wouldn't find any money in my pocket; I'd go and spend it on more wood", he tells me with a smile