Topic: Mtarfa Label and signature research

[pegert]

Can anyone tell me if there is any information available on the labels and artist signatures of Mtarfa glass. I have a vase and am trying to learn more about it. Thank you

[Anne]

Hello and welcome to the board. I have moved your request to the Malta forum as some of our members have been looking into Malta glassmakers so may well be able to give you more information.

[pegert]

Thank you for the welcome, quick response and moving the post to the right place. 

[Anne]

Glad to help. 

I can't find another example of your label, so I am thinking it may be a very recent one. Most commonly seen examples have gold or black labels and an engraved mark on the base. See examples here for what I mean: http://www.20thcenturyglass.com/glass_encyclopedia/maltese_glass/mtarfa_glass.htm

I can't help with the initials though... we need someone to pop along with some detailed knowledge of Mtarfa Glass!

[pegert]

Thank you Ann for the link ! There are some beautiful pieces there . I too had only found the round foil labels with what looks like a glass blower in the middle when researching. This is a round clear label with a stylized M and 1.5 cm. The letters on the base look to be "p u s" or possibly "h u s" in lower case. It is 12 cm tall ..just shy of 4 3/4"...weighs just over a pound and has some pretty blue running through the sand and green tones. What fun when we find a treasure to learn more about it and where and when it was made. Someone clearly had been to Malta and brought it back to the USA as a souvenir then donated it to a Goodwill charity shop where it found me.  I think I may have caught an art glass bug

[rosieposie]

Hello pegert... I think you might be looking at the signature upside down! 
There are two well known Mtarfa signatures, one is an indistinctive squiggle like yours, (although some are just a little clearer!)  and others are written in capital lettering which is easier to decipher.....sometimes.
I agree with Anne that the plastic label is probably very recent,  but I will leave It to others to expand on that.

Here is a Mtarfa signature very like yours.

http://www.20thcenturyglass.com/glass_encyclopedia/maltese_glass/mtarfa_glass.htm

This is a great site to bookmark if you really have caught the glass bug!

[pegert]

Thank you for your help Rosie. I looked at it upside down,  never thought of that duh Ann had also suggested the link which I indeed bookmarked. I dusted some talc into the squiggle and here it is the other way up.
I am impressed how helpful this forum is Thank you!
Pat

[rosieposie]

Yes, pegert,  that definately says Mtarfa.... I wish they would write more legibly! 
So, this is the name of the Glass Studio,  not the makers signature.
I have never seen any Mtarfa glass with a signature of the actual artist that made it, but others may have.