An exhibition of fine works of art from the Spanish Damascene Metal is being held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta.

The exhibition pieces form part of the collection of scholar, collector, and philanthropist Nasser Khalili.

Since 1970, the professor has assembled, under the auspices of the Khalili Family Trust, five of the world’s finest and most comprehensive art collections: The Arts of the Islamic World (700-1900), Japanese Art of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Swedish Textiles (1700-1900), Spanish Damascened Metalwork (1850-1900) and Enamels of the World (1700-2000). Together, the five collections comprise some 25,000 works.

Each of the five collections is, within its field, the largest and most comprehensive in the world.

The local exhibition features works of art from the Spanish Damascene Metal. The majority of these works of art were created by Plácido Zuloaga (1834-1910), a leading artist of the time, whose creations are considered as masterpieces.

A number of artefacts from Malta’s National Collection, including a pauldron, a pistol, a Bronze Age vessel and a majolica jar, will also be on display complementing this exhibition. A full colour catalogue entitled Ornament and Malta: An Introduction has also been published. Selections from the Khalili Collections have been exhibited in over 35 world-class museums, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Alhambra Palace in Granada, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Heritage Malta’s ‘Metal Magic - Spanish treasures from Khalili collections’ is open at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, until April.