Topic: Michael Harris 1 of 4 Signed Sculpture

[Pip]

Barbara, I really don't have much of an idea why the Isle of Wight people are contacting you anyway - you're not saying it's an IoW piece and their use of the word 'think' doesn't mean they know for sure - it certainly doesn't fill me with confidence in what they're saying either.

I've seen absolutely ridiculous items on eBay being mis-described as all sorts - saying this piece is Mdina is NOT the crime of the century and is based on discussions here amongst people who know what they're talking about - not some old Joe off a market stall who said he thought it might be.  I think their problem is in using the word 'signed' which, because of the rarity of Michael Harris signed items was bound to cause a bit of a stir.  IMO if you list this as a piece of Mdina (and point anyone who disagrees to the thread Della gave) but very clearly describe the engraving as being mechanically done, probably after Michael Harris' time I really don't see what the problem could be or how anyone could do anything.  That is what I would do in your situation.

[BJB]

Hi Pip,

Thats what I will do in the morning. I certainly did not say it was IOW at any time, and only put Michael Harris in the title because of the writing on the weight itself.

Will re-list it completly tomorrow under a new listing and new description.

Wish Michael Harris was here to ask personally.

Barbara

[BJB]

Hi Pip and Della,

Have revised the item in question after a nights sleep (sort of as it has played on my mind alot) and I hope it has cleared up all points raised, apart from why it was mechanically marked and by whom.

Thankyou very very much for all your help and support,

Barbara

[Max]

Hey Barbara 

Please don't let it get to you.  As far as I can see you've done nothing wrong, and I think it's outrageous that you've had those vile ebay messages.  There's a big difference between knowingly setting out to deceive and accidental misinformation.  Some collectors are just so blooming precious it makes my blood boil sometimes!

My personal action would have been to pull the auction entirely until I had more information on the item.  The engraving looks professional and I wonder if Pip might have been right in that it could be some kind of presentation piece?

Anyway Barbara, I'm sorry you've had such a crappy time with it.  You don't deserve it.  Chin up girl!   :hug:

[Della]

Good morning Barbara,

I can only reiterate everything that Max has said, especially as I am a little at a loss for words over the whole situation.
:hug:

[josordoni]

Hi Barbara,
sorry to come so late to this - I've been away on family business so have only just got to read the new threads since my return.

I was so sorry to read that you have had these nasty problems,

I have had problems with having Michael Harris' name in the title before, although in this case it was a polite note from Ron and Anne to say that they thought that it was not a MH piece, I took his name out of both title and listing and all was ok, nobody else made a scene.  But then that was a signed Mdina piece, not a problem, only the dating was questionable.  I tend not to put any mention of Michael Harris in the title anymore as these seems to be contentious.

Otherwise, this seems to be very similar to the actions of the Clarice Cliff police 

Nobody is perfect, nobody knows everything, and I do think that the self appointed police should find better things to do with themselves.  I would certainly pull the entire thing, let the people settle back into their seats and turn their attention to someone else and then relist in a few weeks time, with no mention of Michael Harris in the title itself. That seems to be what attracts their attention in the first place.

Mark Hill has said that he believes the piece itself to be good, I would link to that discussion specifically in the listing, saying "read more about this unusual piece which Mark Hill believes to be Mdina"or something, ( I usually link to Mark's site as well, so people can see his experience) and then keep your description of the engraving very factual, making no claims at all, simply saying that it exists.

Duck your head down below the parapet m'dear, and let the snipers go on their way...

[aa]

You can never be sure without handling a piece how it has been engraved. Dominic Fonde, who is an engraver who happens to be in my studio today, and I have looked at the image for some time ( while we're waiting for a phone call!) and we think the engraving has most likely been done by hand. We are not quite sure what is meant by machine engraving, which is quite a high tech operation.

[Frank]

Dearie me! I agree the signature looks hand done, had it been by machine everything would be even more regular. Obviously by someone who is an accomplished engraver too.

[chopin-liszt]

 

The first piece is very definitely Mdina. It is very definitely not 1/4, as in 1 out of 4 total, because I've seen many more than 4 of these! It is a Michael Harris design, but I believe Mark has said that it's only the very pale ones, where the sea-urchin shape inside is made from the crizzle pattern, that were made while MH was still there. To my knowledge, they come in both blue and brown for a fairly short while after MH left.
I would happily state that it is Mdina, early, but post-Harris. I've not a clue where the "signature" came from, but it's definitely NOT right.

I'm clueless about the second paperweight. I'd send it to IoWSG and ask them. It looks a little like the "Iridacea" pattern, but I'm not a pw person, and do not know if pws were made with "bits on" like this one.

[Pip]

In my opinion, whether the engraved name 'Michael Harris' was done by hand or otherwise I don't think it's been done to deceive - in other words, I don't think we're meant to believe it's a signature.  I think there must have been some other reason for it being there.