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Author Topic: Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??  (Read 5416 times)

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Offline chuggy

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« on: August 29, 2006, 03:09:11 PM »
Bought a huge Mdina axe vase today at auction. No markings at all, but a real big beastie with lots of lovely purples and browns. Now as this has no markings am I right in thinking it to be an early piece whilst Michael Harris was still at Mdina, or possibly even a Harris piece. I'll post a piccy tomorrow when I've collected the days haul.
Paul
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Offline David E

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2006, 03:21:16 PM »
Called a 'Fish' vase Paul! :wink:
David
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Offline chuggy

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2006, 03:25:30 PM »
I know David, but looks more like an axe head to me they must have some very peculiar looking fish in Maltese waters.
Paul
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Offline chuggy

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2006, 02:53:48 PM »
OK no info so heres a picture of the vase. It stands 11.25 inches high and 10.5 inches across and is about 3 inches thick across its middle. It's a purple sommerso with a pale amber layer outside of that but also has internal opalescent strapping and clear strapping to the outside. So someone please tell me is this a Michael Harris piece? Anyway I reckon it was the bargain of the auction yesterday so I'm a happy bunny.

http://i4.tinypic.com/261klma.jpg  <---- Mod: Link dead

Paul
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Offline Pat

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2006, 03:18:56 PM »
I've never seen an axe vase quite like that one!
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Offline chuggy

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2006, 03:22:44 PM »
Me neither it certainly makes a statement and very different from the tourist style Mdina pieces which coupled with no markings makes me wonder if it's a Harris piece.
Paul
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Offline josordoni

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2006, 03:38:47 PM »
It is a wonderful vase looked at  from any criteria.

I didn't think it would go happily in a 2kg box sent airmail to Australia though.... :lol:
Thank you very much!

Lynne
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Offline chuggy

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2006, 03:56:49 PM »
Oh I 'm keeping this one for me, I've never owned one and I think this is a smasher.
Paul
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Offline josordoni

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase??
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2006, 05:01:55 PM »
Good !  but don't drop it on your foot....

btw did you see my question about graal on the Bjorn Stern thread?  What is it exactly?  I saw the fish graal thread, but thought the graal was the name of the vessel (like Grail I suppose )  From what you are saying about the bowl, I guess it is a type of finish?
Thank you very much!

Lynne
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Offline Weebeeglass

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Large Michael Harris Axe Vase
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2006, 09:31:41 PM »
Hi All,
Got to put one or two of you out of your misery. It was NEVER titled an 'Axe' so this is a wrong and inaccurate name. This was a name voiced by a well known personality in a very popular series of books at a time when others simply did not know what it was correctly called. It was simply a description of the way it looked. At the Studio they  have always been either 'Fish' vases if they were cased in clear glass(as is this one) or 'Lollipops' if they were not cased (this is not , strickly speaking, Sommerso production either. Check in the definition section of any of the very informative glass books on the market for that method of glass making). The reason for the 'fish' description was that if you turn the original, more rounded shape on it's side it resembles the look of many types of tropical fish. It also resmbles a 'ray' species, albeit standing on it's head !  This particular variation of shape also was not produced by, or during, the time that Mike was at Mdina but more likely after, when Joseph Said ( Mikes first trainee) and the italian Boffo's (father and son from Whitefriars) were having more influence and were changing some of Mike's basic designs. However this general design was certainly the most iconic and recognisable designs to be attributed to Mike and still continues to this day  from Tim Harris at  I.of W. Studio Glass.
Have a look at our website www.artiusglass.co.uk or wait until the wonderful definative book written by Mark Hill comes out (24th. Sept. at Cambridge Glass Fair) It will save a lot of this conjecture. I think I will have to write a piece which I can just copy and paste ! It will save an awful lot of burning midnight oils writing everthing each time this thread arises!! No we love it actually and we are glad you love this piece. We have had this love affair since I started with Mike and the studio (I.of W.) 25 years ago and still get excited seeing nice examples.
Trust that helps.
Ron & Ann Wheeler
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Officially Appointed Secondary Market Specialists to I. of W. Studio Glass  !!

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