On the sun-drenched island of Malta, a historic pottery workshop continues its legacy of slow craft and Mediterranean beauty—one hand-painted piece at a time.

There’s a certain stillness that settles over Attard, Malta. The kind found in sunlit courtyards where bougainvillea spill over limestone walls and the clink of ceramic echoes through a centuries-old studio. It’s here, behind the baroque Villa Bologna estate, that one of Europe’s oldest operating pottery workshops continues its quiet devotion to craft—a story that began in 1924, born from post-war necessity and sustained by generations of artistic hands.

Today, Villa Bologna Pottery is in the care of Sophie and Rowley Edwards, a husband-and-wife team who see themselves not as owners, but stewards.

“It’s a real privilege and responsibility,” Sophie says. “We’re constantly inspired by its legacy and driven to honor it with care and creativity.”

Since taking the reins in 2020, they’ve preserved the studio’s heritage while guiding it into a new chapter—introducing fresh designs, opening the doors to a wider global audience, and upholding the patient, handmade processes that have defined the pottery since its founding.

Inside the studio, tradition remains unshaken. Clay is thrown, shaped, and glazed by a small team of artisans—many of whom are second- or third-generation ceramicists.

“The technique of their production has not changed for the past 100 years,” Sophie explains. “No shortcuts have been introduced. In a world of mass production, few potteries still maintain these standards.”

Each piece begins on paper, with pencil sketches and watercolor studies. From there, the designs are slowly translated onto clay, shifting subtly as they move through the hands of the studio team. The colors evolve through each stage—from wet paint to glaze to the final fire in the kiln.

“We don’t rush the creative process,” Sophie adds. “The quality and authenticity of the final piece depend on allowing time for each stage to develop naturally. From concept to finish, a new design typically takes 3 to 6 months.”

It’s a rhythm of restraint—one that values craft over speed, character over trend. That ethos is perhaps best captured in the workshop’s most iconic pieces: the Pineapple Lamp, first created in 1967 as a tribute to baroque garden symbolism, and the Glug Glug Jug, shaped like the leaping fish caught on Maltese fishermen’s boats and designed to make a soft gurgling sound when poured.

“The Pineapple Lamp is a symbol of hospitality and Mediterranean charm,” Sophie shares. “The Glug Glug Jug is playful and practical—it never fails to make people smile and is a true conversation starter at any table.”

Both pieces are rich with meaning. The dolphin motif, in particular, carries deep Maltese roots—it’s a traditional symbol seen in heraldry and door knockers across the island, and one that Villa Bologna transformed into a ceramic form inspired by the carved dolphins in the estate’s historic garden pond.

But beyond individual pieces, it’s the studio’s philosophy that gives Villa Bologna its enduring soul.

“Every piece reflects quality, craftsmanship, and character,” Sophie says. “In a world of mechanization and digital noise, we’re proud to hold space for creativity, where skilled artists and artisans quietly craft each piece by hand.”

“We treat the brand’s DNA as our template and build from there,” she continues. “That way, we keep evolving without losing what makes it special.”

That evolution includes the studio’s first major designer collaboration—a forthcoming collection with ceramicist and interior designer Gavin Houghton, launching this September.

“It’s one of my favorite projects to date,” Sophie says. “Gavin came to Malta, spent time in the studio, and worked closely with our team. His designs translate so beautifully onto our earthenware—it was a joyful, seamless process.”

As the studio continues to grow, the island of Malta remains its greatest muse. Its light, architecture, and palette are infused into every brushstroke.

“Malta’s colors, architecture, and golden light are woven into everything we do,” Sophie shares. “Even after moving away, I always felt a deep connection to the island. It shapes our patterns, our mood—it’s our constant backdrop.”

For those lucky enough to visit Villa Bologna Pottery in person, that sense of place becomes palpable. The scent of clay and citrus trees. The glow of hand-glazed tiles in the afternoon sun. The feeling that each object holds more than beauty—it holds a story.

“I hope visitors feel warmth, history, and wonder,” Sophie says. “And the sense that each piece holds a little story of its own.”

If You Visit Malta

Villa Bologna Pottery offers guided tours of its studio and gardens in Attard. Don’t miss a walk through nearby Mdina at sunset, a boat ride through the Grand Harbor, or a swim at Għajn Tuffieħa—Sophie and Rowley’s favorite beach. Reservations for studio visits can be made online.

Credits:

Photography provided by Villa Bologna Pottery.