July 1, 2009
Following on from the exhibition Whistles: From Ritual to Toys, which was the first temporary exhibition to be held at Palazzo Falson, and which brought together 163 whistles from local private and museum collections, work has already commenced on the next temporary exhibition. This second exhibition, which will once again be organised by Palazzo Falson in conjunction with Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, is slated for 2010. It will focus on smoking pipes and will be as wide-ranging as possible to give the viewer the opportunity to see the variety and long history that the smoking pipe enjoys.
Captain Olof Frederick Gollcher (1889-1962), the last resident and owner of the house, was an avid pipe smoker, as photographs and portraits of him attest. Amongst the objects on display in the Studio area one can view his pipe collection. Other, more unusual pipes are included in the Palazzo Falson collection, such as a painted glass nargile, or water pipe, a huge pipe of possibly Hungarian origin as well as a Chinese opium pipe.
Moreover, Captain Gollcher formed part of a rather bohemian brotherhood of artists, whose seat was in Rome. The 'confraternity' they formed was named the 'Confraternity of the Pipe' and the coat-of-arms they assumed featured pipes very prominently. Some photographs of the members of the brotherhood show each of them sporting a pipe.
While the Palazzo Falson pipes will form the nucleus of the exhibition, potential lenders are asked to contact us with a view to lending pipes from their collection for inclusion in the exhibition which should last for some weeks. Further details can be obtained by contacting the curator on 2145 4512 or info@palazzofalson.com
