Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: carolglass on February 17, 2010, 11:59:51 PM

Title: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on February 17, 2010, 11:59:51 PM
Hi from a now wet and humid NZ, enough to make one do unfortunate things I tell you!! anyhow I have recently purchased, after considering for a few months, this lovely vase-which I hope is Mdina. 26.5 cm high with a polished base of 7cm D. Flaired lip and straight sides, the picture of the lip is a fair indication of the colours, reminds me of streaks of agate. Now if it is what I hope it is, could someone please inform me if it is an early or late design and mfg-no signature on the base-which is a little out of focus. Many thanks and its still raining. Carol
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: keith on February 18, 2010, 01:28:20 AM
Looks like Mdina to me,as for it's age one of the resident 'Mdina' crew will let you know soon,hot and humid,lucky you,
                                                                                                                                                 Keith.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on February 18, 2010, 01:55:31 AM
Hot,humid and raining is horrible weather-still going strong, just waiting for an earthquake doncha know. Yes I am sure some Mdina maven will stumble acros this thread- still have not purchased the Mark Hill book-on my ever growing list. regards Carol
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 18, 2010, 07:22:49 AM
Most definitely Mdina and part of the Earth Tones range. Post Harris, so perhaps late 1970s/80s
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on February 18, 2010, 07:58:12 AM
Many thanks Christine, just needed a ballpark until I can get the Mark Hill book. regards Carol-it's stopped raining and would you believe a fine day tomorrow!!
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 18, 2010, 10:33:25 AM
Produced post-Harris I believe, but still a Harris design.  :thup:

(you can keep hot and humid - give me cold, wet and dreary before I melt into a greasy puddle in heat and humidity - hope you cope!)
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 18, 2010, 01:30:38 PM
When you say post Harris, late 70s or 80s, is that why this colour scheme doesn't seem to be in the Michael Hill book, Christine?
I recognise it as a Mdina colour scheme because I have a fish vase in that colour and also the Earthtones colouring is illustrated in Andy McConnell's 20th Century Glass. The vase shown there is very similar to your vase, Carol, except it is cylindrical, doesn't have the neck and lip.
I didn't realise the Mdina signature was only applied after Harris left Mdina (until I did some reading tonight).

Posted at 2.30am from an even hotter muggier part of NZ - too hot to sleep even. It isn't usually like this here!
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 18, 2010, 01:46:31 PM
Hello Angela!

It is actually illustrated in Mark's book, middle left, p.53, but as the light is coming through it, it looks dark brown and swirly.
I do have a fair few Earthtones pieces made while Michael Harris and the Boffos were still there - they have a mixed batch of base markings - several with round ground or polished pontil marks, which were not done after this period. I do not believe them to be by Michael Harris, though - and the way the pattern is produced is quite distinctive.

Another feature of Harris/Boffo period is the shape of the chalice, although it is un-knopped around the stem, the bowl is a very distinctive flared bell shape.
Afterwards, the sides of the bowls became quite straight, with only the rim flared.

Pics of my early pieces:
(One of them even has a maltese cross prunt mark on it's base - very unusual)

Earthtones.
This bottle is 9.5" tall, a big one, and is not bell-shaped - that's an optical illusion
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/bigearthbottle2-1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/bigearthbottle1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/earthroundgroundbottom-1.jpg
This is big too - 6.5" tall
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/bigroundearth1-1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/bigroundearth2.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/EarthChalice2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/EarthChalice1-1.jpg
8.25"tall Fish
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/earthfish1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/earthfish2.jpg
Small bottle
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/pruntedearthbottle1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/pruntedearthbottom.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/squatearth1.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/tallsmallearth1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/tallsmallearth2.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/uncuticecutearth1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/uncuticecutearth2.jpg

In general, Earthtones can be random, or spiralled like this (original thread) piece. When Michael Harris started Isle of Wight Studio Glass, he continued developing the designs he started at Mdina - hence IoWSG Tortoiseshell grew from Mdina Earthtones.

To my knowledge, Mdina still produce this design, along with the original blue and yellow stripey pattern, over 40 years on!
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 18, 2010, 01:48:38 PM
Quote
I didn't realise the Mdina signature was only applied after Harris left Mdina (until I did some reading tonight).

I'm not sure that's true is it Sue?
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: suzygpr on February 18, 2010, 01:52:18 PM
Hi Angela

Pieces were signed Mdina while Michael Harris was at Mdina as well as after he left. Just because a piece of Mdina doesn't have a signature doesn't mean it was made in the Harris era.  Some sellers seem to make a big deal at the lack of a signature, don't fall for it!

Suzy x
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 18, 2010, 02:01:37 PM
Oh crikey, more posts in the middle of me getting mine together!

Sometimes it was marked Mdina on the bottom before Michael Harris left. Sometimes, if you're very, very lucky, it's actually written by him.
Often in a lovely round, highly polished pontil mark. Sometimes Eric Dobson's handwriting can almost be discerned (I haven't had this confirmed yet) and smetimes it's just a normal loopy Mdina. Or not.

In the beginning, it was all very, very random how (or almost even if), a piece was finished off.

They were exceptionally busy, keeping up with orders and keeping the shop stocked. Whether or not a piece was finished, and how, depended on somebody available having the time to do it.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 18, 2010, 02:22:49 PM
Wow Sue, what a lot of super pictures. Could you put some of them either on here or on the Glassgallery, so they won't disappear in years to come when other people look up this thread.

The statement about Mdina not being applied while Harris was there came from Andy McConnell's book, where he wrote
Quote
Harris' resistance to signing Mdina's output was scrapped on his departure
and also from McConnell
Quote
The Dremmel-engraved signature was applied only after Harris' departure
However, that does not quite fit with the statements in Michael Hill's book about the Mdina signature.
I am now confused! Was that paper label with the St Thomas's Tower used after Harris left as well as before? Is it true that "thick" Mdina signatures came in after Harris left (indicated in Hill) whereas before then the signatures were "thin"?
And what do you make of this? (it has a big loopy M that you can't see properly at the start of the signature.

Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 18, 2010, 03:47:59 PM
I would imagine Mark Hill's statements are the most accurate available, given he worked with the Harris family to write his book, and it has their seal of approval.

However, I think Andy's comments probably refer to Michael Harris' resistance to putting his own signature on pieces, unless it ws specifically requested.

Elizabeth Harris also told me, some years ago, that he sort of lost interest in a piece as soon as it was finished - he was simply so eager to get on and see what he could do next, in the true spirit of the family slogan - "Our best work will be done tomorrow." He was a complete workaholic.

I believe certain ranges were signed by him, at the specific request of some American import companies - and a lot of the "Rosenthal" range was signed because of this, despite the fact that the major order never really came to fruition.
I believe the paper labels were used both before and after he left. Sometimes there are rectangular labels with numbers written on in biro - these refer to order numbers. The label is sideyways long, rather than upright.

I have also noticed that most of the "Japanese" globe vases are signed by him.

(I have also noticed that these are cased/made in a very similar way to the Fish vases - side-dipping, then twisting to catch the trail, which ends up crossing over between the dipped sides!)

Going over my collection some time ago, I started to try to catalogue all the various scripts used, but then I got ill, and all the lifting, shifting and bending became impossible, but I'd identified over 25 different kinds of handwriting, and it's very much all in the same time frame as the pieces in Mark's book. I hardly have any of the "splodgy" stuff, which was not Michael Harrris' design - I think that was Joseph Said, as are the seahorse PWs.

Basically, absolutely nothing was set in stone or standardised. You have to date the glass by the style and the shapes and the colours.

It was the late '60s, hot glass worked by individual artists in small studios was a new and exciting medium, Michael Harris was more interested in learning what he could do with it than regulating marks on it.

I would love to be able to put the images in glass gallery, but I simply cannot resize them - I'm a technodinosaur - I can't follow all the steps of how to do it, (short-term memory problems as well as a body which doesn't work properly - I've got ME) which is why I use photobucket.
(I can't put pics in the middle of threads either, sorry)

But if anybody can use the photobucket images to put them in the gallery, that's fine by me!
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on February 18, 2010, 06:05:17 PM
Fantastic replies Ladies-so much information to absorb!! Not forgetting those lovely items from Sue. Many, many thanks to all for your time and sharing. regards Carol-dawn promises to be a fine day-I bet its hot though!
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 18, 2010, 07:41:18 PM
 ::)

Re-reading all of this, sorry, Angela, I forgot to say anything about thin versus thick marks, and to comment on the mark on your blue and pink piece.

I think what is meant by "thick" is where the dremmely/drill thing did a sideways sort of thing, which does result in a very thick line to the writing. This comes in around the same time as the splodgy stuff, while earlier - but also later - they used a thinner script.
(I'm unsure of exactly what equipment was being used, it may simply have been a much wider drill bit, but it certainly looks as if it goes sideways to me.)

I have seen this mostly on things such as the hexagonal tall decanters with pink splodges and blue trailing.

Several of the different "hands" which did the writing all tried to keep to a big loopy M at the beginning, fairly straight up and down "posts", with the small "v" part looking more like a capital U suspended between them, and a fairly similar style of writing too - it's only when you compare them you really notice they're actually different.

Much later on, into the '90s, the script is much smaller and decidedly italic. This is often described as reading "Molina" - the bits of the "d" come apart. This tends to occur in conjunction with the plastic labels, if you've got a label.

Sadly this means that, as I have seen recently, somebody unconnected with Mdina has recently tried to copy it, along with the words Michael Harris, onto the base of a bit of glass which was most decidedly not by him - wrong style, wrong shape and not his design!

However the shakiness of the writing gave it away - along with everything else!  ::)
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 18, 2010, 08:34:56 PM
Hi again,
Its morning now (I did eventually get to bed about 4.30am!). Beautiful sunny day now but still hot. Huge waves crashing on the beach (there's a cyclone way off shore somewhere). Back to the glass ...........
I've saved all those pics so I can reduce them etc. and post them for perpetuity. :thup:
You clearly have a huge collection and a vast store of knowledge, Sue.
Would you like to share some of those pictures of the signatures? I'd particularly like to see a "thick" signature. In fact, would you like to work with me on an article for the Glass Museum (www.theglassmuseum.com) about Mdina? I've been collecting material for a long time but never get around to actually doing it.
Would my blue and pink piece be what you refer to as "splodgy pieces"? If not, does it belong to another series?
And here is one of Sue's pictures of an Earthtones Chalice.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: jonchellycain on February 18, 2010, 08:43:00 PM
Just thought i would add, there seems to be a surge of mdina items with MH on them (ive seen 3 now in the last 6 months, one on ebay and 2 at large fairs) being sold as Michael Harris pieces.
The pieces ive seen have all got the genuine mdina script on them but the MH added at a later date by an unconnected person.

michelle
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: glassobsessed on February 18, 2010, 09:47:57 PM
After picking Ron Wheeler brains and reading the various books mentioned this is my understanding of the various signatures seen.

First, Andy McConnell states only that the dremmel was used after 1972, not nothing was used before.

When work was signed while Michael Harris was still at Mdina it was signed using a diamond point engraver, which results in a fine (thin) mark. Here is an example of Mdina signed by Mr Harris http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11858

Here is one example of his signature http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11859

After Mr H left Mdina a dremmel was used to sign items resulting in a thicker mark being produced often with the looping signatures we see often.

For labels have a look here http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/thumbnails.php?album=546&page=1, just realised I have one not in the gallery so will add that later.

John
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 19, 2010, 09:11:13 AM
 :-[

To be honest, I don't actually know what a dremmel is or how it works, but Michael Harris was a very fine diamond point engraver indeed, well before he started working with hot glass.

Thanks for all that extra stuff, and pics, John! I see you've got an image of a tall rectangular label with a written on bit.
I'm afraid my memory needs a lot of prompting.

I was discussing this particular Earthtones pattern with Ron, he suspects they may have been made by Joseph Said. I would suspect he's correct - I've got one of those cube shaped vases with it, which is not, to my knowledge, a Michael Harris shape.

I don't have, to hand, images of the various scripts, Angela, and I did manage to pack a load of stuff away last year (OH getting just a tad fed up of tripping over glass) but I will see what I can do. I'm afraid I'm slow, very limited in any activity at all and it all has to be accommodated around trying to manage basic "life" stuff.

There are a good few images of some wonderful stuff in another thread a while ago - while we were discussing cobalt faceted inside-out vases.

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,27152.0.html

Long thread - got blethering Mdina and Michael Harris, my favourite subject!

Thanks so much for doing computery stuff on the pics - it was a lovely surprise to see that chalice pop up unexpectedly like that!  :clap:

I'd happily work with you on an article Angela - but it might take time - and there are other folk with input around too - and their prompting helps me a lot!

And yes, your blue and pink piece is what I call splodgy.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 19, 2010, 01:16:13 PM
Found a bit with thick script - though this particular one doesn't look too "sideways". Not as much as some I've seen, (the pieces with this mark on don't feature heavily in my collection. There may be some more in the attic.)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/Mdinascript.jpg
and the bottle it's on:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/Mdinascriptvase.jpg

John showed a tall rectangular label with numbers written on it, this is the wide one I've seen. It's on a later range, (one I think they may still produce - it certainly was in their website within the last few years, although the pieces I have seem to all have paper labels).
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/Mdinalabel1.jpg
the script on the base;
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/mdinalabelscript.jpg
the vase (a flat one)
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/mdinaflatpurple.jpg
and on another vase from the same range;
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/mdinapurpleroundscript.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/mdinapurpleround.jpg
the vase (a round one);
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/mdinapurpleroundlabel.jpg

These vases use a completely different shade of purple to the amethyst of the early pieces. It is splodged heavily, to create the appearance of black.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/mdinaflatpurple1.jpg

the script on these is similar to the one I desribed before, as being italic-y, and reading "Molina", but this is one is much bigger than the one which appears with plastic labels.

And an unmarked, unlabelled "egg" vase in this range.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/wave/mdinapurpleegg1.jpg
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: glassobsessed on February 19, 2010, 05:35:15 PM
The following is my take on Mdina labels. Bearing in mind that my interest is in the glass made in the first few years, I have less experience with the glass made later.

I have seen this type of paper label on items made within the first few years http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11791

This one on items made in the mid and late seventies http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-12439

This paper label with a Maltese Cross seems to have been used for a long time    http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11790 
Probably in use during the 80s & 90s and probably later too. I don't remember seeing one on anything likely to have been made in the 1970s but according to Mark Hill's book (p133) they were used then.

There is a plastic label with the Maltese Cross too but I can't find an image at present.

The paper label on Sue's round purple vase in the previous post is new to me, never seen one before.


Sue, a Dremmel works by rotating a small cutting/grinding/polishing bit on a shaft at fairly high speed.

John
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 19, 2010, 10:48:07 PM
 :thup:
Like an old-pashioned dentist's drill? (ie. before the high speed whiney ones)

Thanks, John. :thup:  Like you my interest is mostly in the early stuff, however, there are a couple of slightly later ranges which appealed to me. I like this deep purple stuff, with the fancy "painted" iridescence, and there's a range of rather lurid and complex spodgy stuff (I describe it as being like intestines) with a yellow splodgy background, with trails of strapping covered in bright orange splodges marvered in, all cased.

An absolutely stunning example is for sale on ebay here right now.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370336428873&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

When I first started, I didn't have a clue what I was doing, there was little-to-no-information about it. I've made loads and loads of mistakes, then often found there was some sort of connection later, it's all been learning, it's continually fascinating. I'm still learning. (the day I stop learning will be the day I need to pop my clogs, there won't be any point to life!)

I've got some bits with those very long, wide rectangular labels too. I'd forgotten about those. :-[

(another reason for continuous learning - I need to plug the holes left by the bits that escape.)
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: glassobsessed on February 20, 2010, 03:44:37 PM
Yes, just like an old dentist's drill but more cumbersome to use as the motor is built into the bit you hold in your hand.

John
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 20, 2010, 04:00:32 PM
 :24:

Did you never have your teeth drilled by these old machines then?


I'm thinking if Angela wants a decent article on Mdina brought together for the Museum, a collaberative venture would be far mose useful - are you in, John? (Along with Suzy, naturally.)

Collaberation is also much more fun.  :thup:

And if all interested folk could pose questions they would like answered, that would help to bring it together too.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: glassobsessed on February 20, 2010, 07:05:20 PM
My father was a dentist, I remember once having a filling done without local anesthetic.... 
He also had a portable drill (I think stolen from the Army at the end of his National Service) which he would use for house visits. It looked like a suitcase but inside there was a drill on the end of an articulated arm, driven by an electric motor and a pulley. A wacky looking contraption.

I would love to help to produce a good article. I noticed it needed doing a while ago but kept quiet about it, not wanting to offend....


John
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 20, 2010, 07:30:49 PM
 ;D (thought I'd show some teeth!)

We seem to have a lot in common, John - both my parents were dentists!

One Saturday morning, they took me into the surgery, gave me a general anaesthetic, and took out a troublesome milk tooth.
(the adult tooth never had the temerity to appear after that!)

I hardly ever have an anaesthetic. My Dad was in practice before preventative dentistry came into being - waaaa-y back when they used to brag about filling a bucket full of teeth on a Saturday morning - it used to be tradition that a father-in-law-to-be would give his future daughter-in-law a set of wallies for a wedding present. I'm proud to say that he was a pioneer in introducing preventative dentistry to the NHS, (when it was something to be proud of)



Suzy's up for the triple collaberation.  :thup: :thup: :thup:

(Hope you don't mind, Angela - we're all pretty keen, John's got pieces and information I don't have, so does Suzy - we've all "met" on the Isle of Wight Studio Glass Forum.)

I suppose we now need to get a framework together, and a good list of all the right questions which need answered.

And I think that's me for today. Off to put my feet up.
(before we get sent to the cafe, or is that inevitable anyway? ;) )
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 21, 2010, 10:36:06 AM
Wow look what you started, Carol!
Sue - here's another of your pictures. Hope you like what I have done with it.
I'm excited by the discussion about a collaborative article for the Glass Museum.
I'll email you all so we can draw up plans!
All the best
Angela
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on February 21, 2010, 07:16:46 PM
And here I was thinking it was all about ME!! Fantastic variety of information for all to enjoy and think about. Many, many thanks to all contributors. regards from a suddenly icy cold NZ- well actually Golden Bay. Carol
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 21, 2010, 07:47:10 PM
 :thup:

'Twas you who got us all blethering, Carol.
There's been a bit of it before, the threads just seem to go on, and on once we get going. It had to come to a head sometime, and your posting was obviously that time.

I'm delighted with what you're doing with the pics, Angela!
I got an "undeliverable mail" message, just after 4am gmt, I'm wondering if that was you?
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 22, 2010, 07:45:04 AM
Yes, it probably was me. I'll try and send the message again. Here's another of your pictures.
Best regards
Angela
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 22, 2010, 11:25:28 AM
 :thup:

Message recieved, Angela, thanks. :-*
Nice pic too,
( :-[ if I say so myself - I love this really unusual globe bottle.)
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Lustrousstone on February 22, 2010, 07:55:42 PM
If you want it editing so the joins don't show, you know where I am...
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 23, 2010, 07:02:49 AM
Hi Christine,
Your message had me searching Sue's bottle for joins that show! :huh:  sorry!

It occurs to me that maybe a lot of people like yourself have a special interest in Mdina glass and a topic within that broad subject that they would like to contribute to the proposed article. For example, somebody might want to tell us about the time they visited Mdina and talked to Michael Harris (or somebody else there). Somebody might be an expert on the history of Malta and write a short background piece about that history.  Somebody who worked at Mdina Glass might tell us what it was like working there (wouldn't that be great). Somebody else might specialise in Mdina paperweights and want to add that to our article. And so on, these are just examples. If you have a special interest in Mdina, or some really good photographs, please tell us.
I have never worked with a team bigger than one collaborator before, when writing articles for the Glass Museum. This will be an interesting experiment.
Angela
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 23, 2010, 12:20:26 PM
 :24:

Lustrousstone's a professional copy editor, a personal friend, and also interested in Mdina, Angela!

But oh dear, Angela  some of the things/pipe dreams you're mentioning, (eg folk who have talked to Michael Harris at the time, or finding somebody who worked there at the time and getting their perspective) would be fabulous to find, but lots of folk have been trying to track down such "rocking-horse droppings" - to use Ron's turn of phrase, for years, without success.

I'm not sure if I know of anybody who has specialised in paperweights. I have a few (probably quite a lot, actually) but only really by accident....... :spls:

More than likely enough though.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Carolyn Preston on February 24, 2010, 12:45:49 AM
It occurs to me that maybe a lot of people like yourself have a special interest in Mdina glass and a topic within that broad subject that they would like to contribute to the proposed article.
Angela

All I can contribute is that I have a great aunt that was married in Malta in the early 20th century to a member of His/Her Majesty's Navy.  ::)

Carolyn
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 24, 2010, 01:47:22 AM
Hi Carolyn,
She wouldn't happen to have received Mdina glass for her wedding anniversaries in the late 20th C would she?
I shall continue searching for rocking horse thingies. Some amazing information and people have turned up via this message board.
 
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Carolyn Preston on February 25, 2010, 12:36:13 AM
Don't think so, unfortunately, as she passed away sometime in the '60's. Husband died in the '40's.

Carolyn
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Andy on February 27, 2010, 01:36:49 PM
I just thought id pop a note in on this thread, im not meaning to advertise my own sale here,
but it may be interesting to other Mdina collectors, im sure you all watch ebay Mdina sales anyway,
this tortoiseshell vase came with a paper label on a bit of thread,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260559874068&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

As i own the vase and label, i suppose no copyrite laws if anyone want me to put a photo of the label on here??

I have 2 of these similar vases with  the same label , so just thought id sell one :D
Not sure if it was from the Mdina factory or a retail outlet?
Cheers
Andy
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Andy on February 27, 2010, 01:50:19 PM
Oh, I cant think theres any reason not to post piccies (Apart from you lot dont need to buy the vase and label any more :24: )

 
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on February 27, 2010, 10:12:23 PM
Thanks Andy, I will put in a bid mostly because I would really like that label.
What has the picture of the parrot got to do with it, apart from being a nice picture?
Have you made a good scan of the label?
Best regards Angela
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: KevinH on February 28, 2010, 01:07:11 AM
The parrots are Ring-Necked Parakeets (or Rose-Ringed Parakeet) and I reckon Andy has put them in here to try to get rid of them.

Whenever they newly appear in people's gardens (or nearby), folk say, "Ah, how lovely, what pretty birds". A month later, the same people say, "Aaaarghhh, what noisy birds, don't they ever shut up?"

They are a pleasing sight (or infestation, to some) moving slowly north and west out of the SE of England.

;D
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Angela B on March 01, 2010, 01:36:15 AM
There you go, you see. Its amazing what you can learn on here.  Thanks Kev and Andy - I did enjoy that diversion  :thup:
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Andy on March 01, 2010, 10:53:56 AM
Sorry it was a bit off-topic :D
I love the parakeets, they can be a bit noisy, but its worth it, some info here,
http://10000birds.com/ring-necked-parakeets-in-the-uk.htm
and some fab photos which make mine look a bit pathetic. Rumours of the Origin are interesting,
I heard it was a James Bond film in the 60s, no one is sure, they can survive our winters which
is why they are still here
Andy
 ;D
(They are quite mostly quite timid, which surprises me, as they are obviously fairly intelligent, i havent
heard one talk yet  :24: )
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: keith on March 01, 2010, 12:18:46 PM
If they're a pest,and not protected,you could always have parakeet pie!
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Lustrousstone on March 01, 2010, 12:41:56 PM
They are classified as an alien invasive species, and therefore not protected
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: KevinH on March 02, 2010, 12:19:23 AM
See this Natural England site (http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2009/031009.aspx) for information on controls of Monk Parakeet & Ring-Necked Parakeet. Part quoted below.
Quote
... reports have suggested that because of the licensing changes, both species are now classed as pests and can be freely removed by members of the public.

This assertion is completely inaccurate and it is important to emphasise that the licensing changes do not affect the legal protection for either of these species. It remains illegal for anyone to kill or interfere with monk and ring-necked parakeets except in exceptional circumstances.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Andy on March 09, 2010, 01:33:10 PM
Angela,
you didnt win the vase :'(
but id like to send you the other label ive got , just to say thanks really,
it will be of far more use to you than sitting in a vase on my shelf ;D
Please email me your address,
cheers
Andy
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Baked_Beans on September 02, 2012, 11:35:42 AM
I thought I would add my only two Mdina earth tones pieces I have to this thread....

The egg shaped vase is 6.5 inches in height and has a distinctive sig. to the base with an M that is more of an N and a curly d . The bottle is unsigned and is 11 inches tall but I bought it from a lady who said she bought directly from the Mdina studio in Malta during the 1970's. The bottle is full of bits of frit/grit ! Hope you like them...
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on September 02, 2012, 08:19:42 PM
Hi Baked-beans- I had thought that I too had an earth tones vase but no it was not to be. Very similar to your lovely example, I am tending towards MDG for an I.D on that one. Thanks for posting I had forgotten about this thread. regards Carolglass
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on September 03, 2012, 09:31:52 AM
Are you looking for a confirmation of Mdina or MDG, Carolglass? Pics would help! ;)
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Baked_Beans on September 03, 2012, 02:15:53 PM
Yes , it would be great to see it.....when I saw the 'egg' vase in the shop I thought it could be MDG until I looked at the base . I was searching here on GMB to see if I could find another one...I couldn't  , so thought I would post a photo here for future reference rather than start a new topic .  ;)

Ta , Mike.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on September 03, 2012, 08:03:07 PM
Sorry Sue- might  start another thread when I have found the paperwork- I have a vague feeling that I have already asked.
regards Carol
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Baked_Beans on September 04, 2012, 07:09:56 AM
I think this might be it  :o

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,33066.0.html

Very nice ! Ta Mike.
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: carolglass on September 04, 2012, 10:54:12 AM
 ;) Ha ha Mike- got it in one. Still have to pursue the NZ connection- between that day and this a lot has happened.
regards Carol
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: chopin-liszt on September 04, 2012, 12:42:47 PM
It's not Malta Decorative Glass. Carry on with the NZ train of thought!
Title: Re: He he another Mdina for me-I hope!!!
Post by: Baked_Beans on September 04, 2012, 05:30:44 PM
Gosh ....! It's very similar in style ! Good luck with your research Carol, you never know, the glass artist who made your vase might well have worked in Malta at some point in time !  Cheers  Sue !

ttfn, Mike.