Valetta circa 1798-1802 by PS, probably Paolo Schembri
A late 18th / early 19th century Maltese silver small coffee pot

De Rohan / French Occupation period. Of baluster form upon three hood feet with laurel wreath junctions, the short spout with a shell terminal and rocaille underside, also with a laurel wreath, opposite an original shaped wooden handle with rosette mounts, the hinged domed lid surmounted by a bird finial with shaped thumbpiece. The body with chased decoration of rocaille C scrolls and foliage, the front with a cartouche chased with the Maltese cross, one side a cartouche chased with a fleur-de-lis, the other a bouquet of flowers. Marked underneath with hand and dagger mark, and a crowned R for Roman 916 standard, and maker’s mark PS (possibly Farrugia XII i 216).

Height – 15.7 cm / 6.25 inches

Weight – 358 grams / 11.51 ozt

This interesting coffee pot would appear to come from the late De Rohan period to French occupation period, the presence of the fleur-de-lis perhaps an indication of this. There are two makers with the name Paolo Schembri recorded, who may be father and son, one is recorded from 27^th March 1774, and the latter from 1803 who became council of goldsmiths 26^th June 1820. This mark of a PS is most similar to that recorded by Farrugia for the later Schembri but does allow for the possibility of earlier activity. The earlier Schembri is recorded in both Farrugia and Bologna as using a mark P and a castle turret. The later Schembri did make coffee pots, with an example marked for the Ball period recorded in Bologna, A. A., (1995) The Silver of Malta. Malta: MAG Publications, p.159. f. 523.

Continued research is undertaken on silver from the late De Rohan (ends 1797), Von Hompesch (1797-1798), French Occupation / Siege period (1798-1800), and early Ball period (1801/02-09).

The earliest English-type wares probably date to the period from October 1798 when Sir Alexander Ball (1757-1809) arrived in Malta, and a year later he was appointed as Civil Commissioner. On the 28^th October 1798, Ball successfully completed negotiations with the French garrison on the small island of Gozo, acting a British base. Valetta remained fortified by the French at this time. A teapot very much in the French manner, with a hand mark traditionally ascribed to the Ball period for circa 1800 was sold these rooms 11 October 2023, lot 241. A beaker bearing the same marks as this coffee pot, the hand and dagger mark, ascribed to the De Rohan period, but with an English naval inscription against the French for 17 May 1801 was sold these rooms, 8 Oct 2024, lot 371 (£3780 incl. prem). A beaker bearing the same marks as this coffee pot, the hand and dagger mark, ascribed to the De Rohan period, but with an English naval inscription against the French for 17 May 1801 was sold these rooms, 8 Oct 2024, lot 371 (£3780 incl. prem).

It is not surprising that the period of the Siege of Valetta (1798-1800) may have disrupted the making of silver and the marks used, evidently some issues within the silversmiths trade continued in the years after 1801 (Ball period) for on the “1st October 1810, under the signature of Mr E F Chapman, Public Secretary, by order of His Majesty's Civil Commissioner, read that 'to put a stop to the frauds which, to the great detriment of the Public, have of late been committed in regard to the sale of articles manufactured of adulterated gold and silver, His Excellency Lieutenant General Oakes, His Majesty's Civil Commissioner, besides directing the necessary measures to be adopted for the discovery and punishment of the principal offenders, has ordered a new stamp to be prepared […]”