MaltaPost’s Latest Stamps Look So Good You’ll Want To Lick Them
MaltaPost’s philately section regularly releases gorgeous stamp collections, featuring anything from paintings of ships from the Order of St John to photos of castles and palaces from around the island. Their latest issue – and the last one for 2017 – featured something way smaller in size, but just as magnificent.
The Traditional Floor Tile Patterns collection is just that; four of the most iconic Maltese tile patterns which many people will definitely remember from their nanna’s house. As more modern designs are reincorporating the traditional patterns of yesteryear, MaltaPost thought it would be the best time to immortalise them in their latest collection. And boy were they right.
Patterned tiles like the ones featured in this new stamp collection were introduced by the Ottomans, and have been in use in the Mediterranean region for centuries. From luxurious palaces to humble homes, they’ve become somewhat of a beautiful common denominator when it comes to traditional interior design.
Detailing the tiles’ history, MaltaPost explained how they were individually handmade out of several layers from a mixture, marble powder and at times even cement. When it comes to the unmistakable decorative layer, on the other hand, coloured metal oxides were used.
The four different patterns were drawn with ink by local artist Stephanie Borg, a self-taught artist, graphic and surface pattern designer. “She has combined her keen understanding of colour and linear form to develop this series of pattern designs,” MaltaPost said.
The set of four sheets come in denominations of €1, €1.16, €2.36 and €3. The sheets are just under 10 x 10 cm, and the stamps are the typical 35mm sizes.
Anyone wishing to purchase a set can do so via MaltaPost’s online shop.
