Hi All,
Good HEAVENS! What an awful experience it sounds like you have had Barbara. I'm so sorry to hear that people can be so cruel and rude - especially over something like this. After all, children will not die! As everyone says, ignore them. Life's too short and if they want to go through it being miserable, wound up and vindictive, then poor them.
In my opinion, the weight is Mdina. As Sue says, I too have seen them authentically signed Mdina. I think it dates from after Michael was there, so post 1972. I do not know if he produced the design himself, but would think not. As I think I said in my last post on the wheel shaped weights, I reckon they're primarily 1980s, late 1970s at the earliest. I've also seen them with strong blue 'flowers'. However. I would always defer to Elizabeth and Tim at the studio if they feel differently.
As regards the signature, I have never seen this type before - skillful as it is. As far as I am aware, Mdina did not offer numbered limited editions during the 70s, 80s or 90s -- most particularly when Michael was there. Due to the way it is engraved, the style, and the fact that it is a numbered limited edition, I do not think the signature is original. Michael was a highly skilled and experienced diamond point (and other) engraver. All Mdina items I have seen that were signed by him with his name have been executed with a diamond point or similar. This includes the very, very few items I have seen with personal dedications, as gifts to friends. As I believe this pieces dates from after he left, I also don't understand why it would bear his name as Mr Said tends to suppress Michael's early input. I'm not trying to be rude, but just look at the company history on their website for an example. Later (post 1972) pieces, if signed with a name, tend to have swirling signatures that (as far as we know) are either Mr Said or Eric Dobson, Michael's business partner who ran Mdina for some years after Michael left and before Mr Said took over. So, in short, my opinion is that this is a 1970s-80s unmarked Mdina paperweight with a signature (skillfully) added by a third party at a later date in order to try and raise the value of the item. This is based on my experience and the thoughts above, but I could be wrong, and one thing I have learnt in this business is never to say never!
As regards the second piece, I think Sue is right, of course. I personally think this is the very early Isle of Wight Studio Glass 'Iridaceae' paperweight, that had a 3D trailed 'Iris' on it. It was produced in 1983 only, and can be seen as a line drawing on p141 of my book. It should be around 8.5cm in diameter. Of course, I will again defer to the studio, who I am hoping will would confirm my thoughts!!
I hope all of this helps.
I am in the midst of a move so won't have access to the internet to answer any questions my thoughts might raise until Sunday night at the earliest.
All the best,
Mark
www.markhillpublishing.com