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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: Greg. on July 09, 2010, 02:53:18 PM

Title: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Greg. on July 09, 2010, 02:53:18 PM
Hi All,

Just picked up the below rectangular textured Mdina bottle, which I was pleased to encounter. However, the color is virtually all blue, with hardly any green. The color in the first pic is a little misleading as the sun makes it look more green than it actually is, however, in pic 2 compared with other Mdina textured pieces it is a little easier to see the color difference.

The rim and neck are also slightly different in shape as the neck is not as elongated as other bottles/flasks I have encountered.

Is the color difference due to a temperature issue during manufacture..?- In terms of the size and base everything else looks fine, plenty of wear and a concave polished pontil to the base.

All thoughts appreciated.

Regards,
Greg
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: glassobsessed on July 09, 2010, 03:03:38 PM
The colour difference will not be a result of variation in working temperatures, more likely is the somewhat random effect of using silver salts as colouring agents and also the necessity of using whatever materials were available for production.

The flask itself looks very nice to my eye, interesting with that button rim too. There's plenty of variation in the necks of these textured bottles from Mdina.

John
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 09, 2010, 03:30:52 PM
I've not seen one of these rectangular ones with silver salt inclusion before - all the ones I've seen simply have variations in colour because of the initial intensity of colour melted in the pot that bottle is made from.
I've got two of these rectangular ones, both have different rim/neck finishes - both a bit taller than the lovely button rim on this one. I believe these rectangular ones are scarcer than the big bottles and the smaller pots.

But the joy of Mdina textured stuff is that despite the bottles being mould blown, each one is completely unique because of differences in colours, colour saturation, silver salt inclusion and the individual shaping of the different necks and rims.
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Greg. on July 09, 2010, 03:52:21 PM
Thanks John & Sue, interesting to hear your thoughts. As you mention Sue, I have also encountered more of the large bottles than the rectangular flasks, they do certainly appear harder to find. The Mdina textured wares have been a favorite of mine for a while, all have their own individual characteristics. Just need to find one of the large bottles/flasks in an amethyst colorway now!

Thanks again.

Greg
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: glassobsessed on July 09, 2010, 03:56:42 PM
I think this tall one (http://www.burgh-le-marshfurnishings.co.uk/Mdina%20Early%20Textured%20Bottle%201968-70%20Green%20Shade.jpg) had salts added though it is not the squatter variation above.
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Greg. on July 09, 2010, 04:06:47 PM
I've actually handled that bottle at a recent glass fair, I think the dealer mentioned it was slightly earlier in date than some of the more vibrant colors that you can see.
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: MarkHill on July 09, 2010, 04:46:13 PM
Rare thing! As Sue says, the rectangular form is much harder to find than the taller square section bottles and smaller vases. What interests me is why. After all a metal mould would have had to be made, at the same cost as the moulds for the other two forms. So it seems clear that this size was deemed too large, or impractical to use or transport home, or even too expensive. I think I've seen half a dozen over the years, one a vase rather than a bottle as here.
Superb find, I'm envious, especially with that button rim which is a further rare feature!
Best,
Mark
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 10, 2010, 09:40:25 AM
 ;D

On the subject of the moulds, Mark, this has just reminded me I've been meaning to mention to you that I think there may have been another size, apart from the tall bottles, the rectangular bottles and the short pots.

I've got a medium height bottle, with an odd, very thick cup-shaped rim, but it is rectangular in shape - the longest side is the same as the tall bottles, but the other side is shorter.
The bases of the small pots are ~ 7.5cm x 7.5cm
The bases of the tall bottles are ~ 10cm x 10cm.

This oddity is ~ 10cm x 8cm, and is 28cm tall.

(ps I emailed you recently, with a load of images and awkward questions, but I'm not sure I used a current address.... xxxx)
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Greg. on July 10, 2010, 11:33:27 AM
Hi Sue,

Could you add a picture of the bottle sounds intriguing..?

Thanks, Greg :thup:
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 10, 2010, 12:23:15 PM
I'll track one down soon, Greg.
I've just been studying textures and matching them up to each other.
I have 4 small pots, two are made with one mould, two are from a different one.

The basic big texture of these seems to be all based on one big template, but different parts of it are used for the sides of each mould.

In the big bottles, it runs horizontally on two opposing sides and vertically on the other two.
On the small pots it runs horizontally.
and on the rectangular bottles it runs vertically.

But taking any 2 textured pieces, you will always find matching sections.
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 10, 2010, 02:51:51 PM
This is an image of the rectangular one with the "cup" rim, (far right) along with a short "normal" tall bottle and another strange bottle beast - with a very tall extended neck and button rim.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/oldglass/texturedbits1.jpg
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Greg. on July 10, 2010, 06:45:52 PM
Thanks for adding the pics Sue, certainly very different than anything I've come across before.

The one with the cup rim and the one one with the elongated button rim both seem very unusual. The one with the cup rim almost looks similar to standard neck/rims on these bottles but looks inverted..? very confusing. The other bottle with the tall extended neck, seems to draws resemblances from other Mdina bottles in terms of the neck and button rim, but with a standard textured main body.

Have you seen anything similar to these two examples before..?

Thanks again.

Greg
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 10, 2010, 07:23:34 PM
I recently acquired a fabulous non-textured bottle with a similar cup-like rim, (pic tomorrow) and I've seen a helter-skelter vase with similar, in red - which is of a later period (I think Wayne had it for sale) - they're certainly  "out there" but do seem to be a bit unusual.
That's the one which is 10cm x 8cm - which I think is more unusual than the rim.
I'm afraid the pic is not showing it's slim side!

Early Mdina isn't "standard" or made to measure. Each piece is an individual. Core features get mixed and matched.
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 11, 2010, 02:32:42 PM
My fabulous big bottle.
The nearest thing to it is possibly a Crizzle stone. The only difference is the shape. It weighs 5 pounds, 1.5 pounds more than my Crizzle stone.
I have never seen another one of these bottles.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/oldglass/bigbot2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/oldglass/bigbot1.jpg

Next to a small Phoenecian perfume bottle to give an idea of size,
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/oldglass/bigbotlittlebot2.jpg

Next to my Crizzle stone
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/oldglass/bigbotcriz2.jpg

The crizzle layer of the bottle is inside the thick casing, half-way between the blue inside and the thick clear outside casing, whose optical properties stop it looking like the separate layer that it is.
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Greg. on July 12, 2010, 01:31:37 PM
bottles absolutely stunning, thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Anik R on July 12, 2010, 01:48:55 PM
Sue, they are absolutely lovely! 
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 12, 2010, 02:15:57 PM
I do think the bottle is something quite special..... perhaps one to which the "R" word can genuinely be applied.

It also must have it's own special good luck fairy - it arrived with a couple of small sheets of already-popped bubble wrap, rattling around in a very thin card box a cafetiere had been in.......
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/oldglass/bigbotbox.jpg

thank you for the compliments  ;D - though it's Michael Harris I think they should be aimed at...  :sun:
Title: Re: Mdina Textured Flask- Colour Clarification/ confirmation....
Post by: Nemmie on October 04, 2013, 06:49:07 AM
Just found this thread and wow. That is all. :)