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The Maltese word Ganutell is derived from the Italian "Canutiglia", which refers to a thin spiral "thread" made of different wires and spun together to form a rope, which is then used to make artificial flowers and embroidery.The arrangements can be seen in churches around the Island of Malta, especially during the parish feasts when the churches are decorated up to the hilt with precious art collected over the years. |
Ganutell flowers are nowadays also used for the Christmas Crib and the Holy Statuettes. The Jesus in the crib, or the statuette, would be in the centre surrounded by a variety of beautiful flowers.
The art of Ganutell requires an intricate process of making and completion. Different individuals usually specialize in the different phases of making, as those who design and prepare the wire framework, those who wind up the threads on their frames and incorporate various coloured glass beads, sequins and other accessory materials, and finally those who mount the units into compact compositions, with the addition of chenille, fillers and supports, to be placed in alabaster or silver vases.
Silver or some other suitable wire is inserted into the hollow of the spiral, tube-like wire, and shaped into a leaf or petal, and silk or other fine threads are wound on the framework and kept in place by the spaces in the stretched spiral.
In Ganutell flower mounts, one can find leaves and petals which do not involve the use of the canutiglia or spiral wire, and although they form part of the whole composition, they are not Ganutell work, but an accessory made from non-spiral wires on their own or twisted with coloured thread, preferably on a hand spindle.
