Art historian Alaine Apap Bologna has passed away at the age of 78.

Ms Apap Bologna was an art historian and connoisseur who specialised in silver and objets d’art and who spent several years at Christie’s Geneva, including a period as head of its horological and silver departments.

Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti (FPM) recounted how she had generously given her time and knowledge to the foundation over the years, including for its Silver of Malta exhibition in 1995.

Back then, Ms Apap Bologna helped select over 900 silver exhibits that were created by Maltese and foreign silversmiths who settled in Malta from the mid-16th to the 19th century, and authored the catalogue that accompanied the exhibition.

She also researched the silver collection at Palazzo Falson and was a contributor to Treasures of Malta.

Ms Apap Bologna was married to the late Peter Apap Bologna.