Obelisk Auctions

Obelisk Auctions is an auction house and firm of valuers working from No 1 Mdina Road in Attard, a town close to the old capital of Mdina. The business sells antiques and fine art above all, along with arms and militaria, property, cars, industrial and liquidation stock, hotel and catering equipment and government property. It is also a court appointed auctioneer, approved to hold judicial sales by auction.

For a UK visitor or a buyer settling in Malta, an auction is one of the more rewarding ways to furnish a home or find something with real local character. Obelisk appears in our directory of antique shops in Malta, and it welcomes both private bidders and people who simply want to look round before a sale.

Buying at an Obelisk auction

The buying process is deliberately simple: register to bid, place your bid, leave a deposit to secure the lot, pay the balance and collect your purchase. Registration can be done online ahead of time or at the viewing, and even on the day, using your ID card number to receive a bidding card. Raising that card until the auctioneer acknowledges you is all that is needed, and the auctioneer will check whether you wish to carry on bidding.

Viewings take place a few days before each sale, and the firm strongly recommends going. As many as 200 to 300 lots can be sold in one session, so the viewing is your chance to look at condition, repairs and alterations in your own time. Catalogues list the items in the order of sale, are free and can be downloaded from the firm's site with photographs of each auction. Plan to arrive at least half an hour before the lot you want comes up.

You do not have to be in the room. Registered bidders can bid by telephone or leave a bidding form with a maximum price for each lot. After a successful bid a deposit of 10% is due, payable only in cash or by bank draft, so it helps to get an estimate at the viewing and bring the right amount.

Selling and private sales

Whether you are clearing one item or the entire contents of a house, Obelisk can take it on. Lots can join the next public auction, be placed in a private auction, or be sold on site when a property is being auctioned at the same time. The firm offers a guarantee of the estimate price, which suits sellers who want the money released for another purpose, and it keeps a database of buyers who are told when matching items appear.

Between sales, a private treaty arrangement can be negotiated for antiques, fine art, jewellery, silver and furniture. The firm approaches possible buyers on your behalf, and works the other way round too, helping collectors track down a particular piece that has not come up at auction. It also offers a free valuation if you are considering selling a property by auction, and prepares the catalogue if you proceed.

Valuations and consultancy

Valuations are prepared for several purposes, among them inventories and divisions of an estate. A complete valuation gives detailed descriptions and itemised values, presented in a bound document with an affidavit and summary page. The valuation fee is refunded if you then consign any of the items to Obelisk for sale.

A separate consultancy service covers attributions of paintings, iconography and works of art, as well as furniture, silver, antiquities and memorabilia. The firm draws on specialists in antiques and fine arts, arms and militaria, Melitensia (items relating to Malta's own history) and restoration and conservation.

The palazzo in Attard

The firm's gallery occupies a large 18th century palazzo that has been restored and converted to hold its offices, galleries and auction rooms. The main gallery is multi-purpose and can also host lectures and seminars, and the courtyard and garden are intended for outdoor cultural events. If you are exploring the island's heritage, pair a visit with the Mdina guide or read about the Knights of Malta, whose legacy shows up in many of the objects that reach the saleroom.

Attard is easy to reach from the capital, so our Valletta city guide pairs well with a viewing, and our things to do in Malta page helps you build a day around an auction viewing. For galleries that sell contemporary work, see 2B Gallery, another listing nearby. Anyone relocating can start with the Malta relocation guide, and if you are planning a longer stay, our where to stay in Malta guide covers areas, while about Malta gives the wider picture and the Malta weather guide helps you time a trip.

To ask about a forthcoming sale, selling an item or booking a valuation, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Obelisk Auctions.