Glass Message Board

Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: dadsglassetc on April 27, 2012, 12:39:45 PM

Title: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: dadsglassetc on April 27, 2012, 12:39:45 PM

Hello there, I am new, please see my post in the cafe place.

The first pink item is signed on the underside Mdina.
The other pieces I think they are too.  Any ideas?
Mdina?Murano?Mtarfa?
Mmmmm Italian?

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 27, 2012, 12:46:16 PM

pics 1, 2 and 4 are Mdina. I don't know what 3 is!
Pic 2 is a perfume bottle minus its long-drop style stopper, probably dates to the '80s;
the Roman lamp style piece is undatable, (pic1) really, as they have been made from pretty early on and I think they're still made, the horse head paperweights have also been made for a very, very long time (designed by Vicente Boffo). I'm afraid none of these Mdina bits are very special. Car boot.

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: glassobsessed on April 27, 2012, 06:32:19 PM

The shape of the seahorse is unusual, perhaps an early example.

Does item no 3 have any marks on the base and is the inside of the neck ground for a stopper to fit? Does it have a satin finish?

John

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 27, 2012, 06:39:04 PM

 :-[
I thought the horse thing was lying on the floor - but you're right, John - it is a funny shape - and the base part has very good colours (I'll try to forget about the top bit - sorry, I'm not very fond of these.)

You're also right about the other bottle - it does look satinated and it looks as if it should have a stopper too.

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: glassobsessed on April 27, 2012, 06:42:22 PM

Good colours and a streak of iridescence running around it too. ;D

A topic on Mdina horses here: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,41620.0.html

John

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 29, 2012, 05:49:35 PM

I'm wondering if No.3 could be Guernsey (Island) glass? They certainly used these colours, and are part of the Harris glass dynasty.

Illustrative example in this auction:-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180872045938?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: glassobsessed on April 29, 2012, 07:29:24 PM

Guernsey usually has an impressed pontil mark but does it always?

Example here for Dadsglass to compare: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,35594.0.html

John

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: Lustrousstone on April 30, 2012, 06:28:34 AM

It looks a little sophisticated and iridescent for Guernsey Glass. Phoenecian?

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 30, 2012, 10:44:57 AM

"It looks a little sophisticated and iridescent for Guernsey Glass."

My worry too. I don't think Phoenician.
My next thoughts leapt miles in a different direction... Saunders and Wallace????????

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: Lustrousstone on April 30, 2012, 11:13:48 AM

Usually signed

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: glassobsessed on April 30, 2012, 11:31:20 AM

At the moment, I would hedge my bets for no 3 towards Mdina - shape, satin finish etc.

John

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 30, 2012, 11:33:19 AM

Rather recent, then?  ;D

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: glassobsessed on April 30, 2012, 11:48:07 AM

Could be but all sorts of examples pop up with a satin finish from time to time, I think Mdina and satin go back 20 or 30 years. The date they started satin finishing used to be on their website but that timeline thingy has been removed.

John

Title: Re: Mdina? Murano? Mtarfa?
Post by: chopin-liszt on April 30, 2012, 11:57:03 AM

If (a very big word for so few letters) my memory is right, I think it was about '85-'86.  ;D