The Glass Route of Malta: Mdina, Valletta and Gozo Glass

How It All Began

The history of Maltese glassmaking started not so long ago — in 1968. Two British craftsmen, Michael Harris and Eric Dobson, arrived on the island and opened the first art glass workshop, Mdina Glass. Its furnaces were lit in a former Royal Air Force hangar in Ta’ Qali, and within months, local glassblowers’ creations — vases, bowls and paperweights — began appearing in souvenir shops and galleries across the Mediterranean.

Mdina Glass: The Apprentice Becomes the Master

Harris was a restless innovator. For several years, he trained local apprentices and worked with them to create pieces that are now considered collectibles. One of his first apprentices was Joseph Said, who quickly became the head glassmaker and, in 1985, bought the company from its British founders. This marked the beginning of a new chapter — Mdina Glass as a Maltese family brand. Joseph expanded production, introduced fusing and lampwork techniques previously unknown in Malta, and opened new retail shops. Today, Mdina Glass is known for its rich colour blends, heavy glass and complex shapes.

Valletta Glass: Paul Said’s Own Direction

But the story didn’t end there. Joseph’s younger brother, Paul Said, founded his own workshop in 1979 — first under the name Mtarfa Glass, later Valletta Glass. His approach was different: clean lines, vivid colours, and modern geometry. Valletta Glass has stayed true to that direction — bright yet balanced designs, technically precise and close to mid-century style. It was Valletta Glass that first moved Maltese glass beyond souvenirs into the realm of interior design.

Gozo Glass: The Second Chapter of Harris

In the late 1980s, Michael Harris returned to the Maltese islands to help set up a new studio on Gozo. He trained a group of local apprentices, including Daniel Brooke, the future director of the company. When Harris was later diagnosed with a chronic illness, management passed to the Brooke family. After Harris’s death in 1994, they took full ownership of Gozo Glass — the youngest branch of the tradition he had started.

Three Studios, Three Styles

Today, these three studios form the core of Maltese glassmaking — each with its own character:
• Mdina Glass — the island’s artisanal heritage, deep colours, bold shapes.
• Valletta Glass — vivid contrasts, diverse forms, and an extensive range of Christmas ornaments.
• Gozo Glass — functional design inspired by natural elements: fire, air, stone and sea.

The Glass Route of Malta