Keeping tradition alive in the heart of Mosta

An interview with a local artisan highlights the significance of preserving traditional crafts.

Roberto Andolfi is an Italian artisan based in Mosta.

In the quiet streets of Mosta, an artisan hones his craft, his doors open for visitors throughout the day. I met and spoke with Roberto Andolfi, a third-generation glass artisan who moved to Malta in 2006 and has since made the island his home, bringing his family’s traditional Italian craftsmanship to his small workshop, "Andolfi Laboratorio Artigianale del Vetro."

The Andolfi family has been proficient in the art of glassmaking for the past 75 years, making him a third-generation artisan following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He describes it as his lifelong passion: "creating unique products" for his customers, ranging from small souvenirs to intricate portraits and art pieces.

In 2000, he had opened his own glassmaking workshops in Rome and Florence. Six years later, he was drawn south to the city of Mdina, where he opened his first Malta-based store. He has since moved to Mosta, preferring its central location for his main workshop.

He admits that being an artisan and a business owner can be difficult at times. He has to compete with a market of factory-made souvenirs at a fraction of the price and originality of his, but the time he spends crafting his works is much appreciated by his loyal customers. He has numerous collaborations, including with hotels, restaurants, and the Italian ambassador to Malta himself, in which he creates artworks and souvenirs for welcome gifts and special occasions.

When asked about his future plans, Andolfi stated that his dream is "to open the School of Glass in Malta and in Italy," citing the glass museum in his Italian hometown of Piegaro, near Perugia, as his inspiration. "I have three sons, so I hope there will be a fourth generation of glassmakers," he shared about the future of the family legacy.

Weekdays and weekends, he sits in his shop, working quietly on the next order and dreaming big.