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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: glassobsessed on April 17, 2009, 08:08:21 AM

Title: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 17, 2009, 08:08:21 AM
There is a globe vase advertised for sale on ebay (sells today I think) item no 320357828259. It has an IOW sticker on it but I believe it was made by Mdina (I have two one is signed Mdina). The base and the rim look more like Mdina production to me than IOW.
Mark Hill mentions these yellow ochre globe vases with air bubbles on page 43 of his Mdina and IOW book.
The starting price to me seems to be a 'retail' kind of value but if anyone out there wants one of these globe vases to add to their collection it is an opportunity. (I am not the seller!).

John.
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: Lustrousstone on April 17, 2009, 06:48:54 PM
Looks like an IOW Aurene globe IMHO
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 17, 2009, 10:52:11 PM
The now unsold vase on ebay had a ground and polished base, I have not seen any early IOW item apart from a large platter with such a base (most have pontil marks of some sort). In contrast every early piece of Mdina (1972 and before) I have handled has a ground and polished base apart from the textured vases (polished pontil). I appreciate this is far from definitive.

The bubbles in early Mdina globe vases tend to vary dramatically in size with a host of very small bubbles which can sometimes be remarkably evenly distributed. Early IOW globe vases have their bubbles too but not nearly as many and often with a little less variation in size.

Two other differences tend to be that IOW glass is finer or thinner walled than Mdina and that the shape of the necks differ. Mdina globe vase rims are stubbier and tend to have very small necks, IOW rims are thinner often more flared and the necks are generally wider.

Bearing this in mind the vase on ebay struck me as being more like Mdina than IOW, not sure if this is relevant but I think that type/shape of sticker was used from the 1980s onwards.

I will try and post some photos of globe vases tomorrow or Sunday to illustrate my ramblings.

John.
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 18, 2009, 12:57:48 PM
Here are a few photos of Mdina globe vases and IOW vases and their bases:
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 18, 2009, 12:59:28 PM
Some more showing internal bubbles in the Mdina globes:
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 18, 2009, 01:00:19 PM
and the IOW bubbles:
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 18, 2009, 01:02:44 PM
and yet more photos this time of necks:
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 18, 2009, 01:11:29 PM
and finally (thank god I hear you all mutter) are two Mdina signatures. The later signature is applied with a dremmel (marks are made with a rotating abrasive bit). The early signature is applied with a diamond point engraver and is much finer, the script is very fine and looks to be by Michael Harris (I have a signed fish vase to compare it with).

I realise that there are nearly always exceptions to these types of generalities and I would love to see any that anyone fancies posting.

John
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: Lustrousstone on April 18, 2009, 05:26:55 PM
Without handling`it we can't really tell, particularly as IOW from 1980 had ground and polished bases, that label was introduced in 1978 and Aurene was produced until 1982.
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: soledivo on April 19, 2009, 12:35:54 AM
There are some Mdina and IOW pieces that I find confusing,
they all fall into the late Mdina category.

If I was looking to buy this piece, without doubt my 1st thought would be Mdina.
BUT, I read some time ago a short article about cross over pieces, sorry it may have been Mark's but I as usual didn't save it.
Maybe this is one of those !
Regardless I love it, but not at that price,
regards to all

martin
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 19, 2009, 09:31:42 AM
I agree on the high asking price, if any one has an IOW Aurene piece that is even vaguely similar in colour or style to the yellow globe vases I would be intrigued to see a photo.

John.
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: Pip on April 19, 2009, 09:50:22 AM
It's not a bad price actually - I sell shedloads of early Mdina at similar retail prices to collectors who won't touch eBay with a bargepole and prefer to pay more for the reassurance of knowing that they won't receive a chipped and scratched bit of rubbish wrapped up in a piece of newspaper (some have told me this). 

I guess what we forget is that this board is largely made up of seasoned bargain-hunters, carbooters and charity shoppers who, with experience, know what to buy at the lowest possible prices - but that doesn't necessarily make the retail sites or those on eBay like the seller highlighted in this thread overpriced.  They just want more than most of us tightwads on here are prepared to pay!

Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: Chris Harrison on April 19, 2009, 10:14:28 AM
Dammit, woman, I resemble that remark!!!   ;D
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: Pip on April 19, 2009, 10:17:51 AM
 ;D you know it makes sense Chris.
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on April 19, 2009, 03:19:30 PM
Yes, I am stingy and I love a bargain, I also have this embarrassing habit of sometimes haggling even when I have been offered a good price (I do feel shame). I guess I have seen too many bargains come my way and I am spoilt. Yet when the item is exactly what I am looking for then I will happily pay a retail price for it.

Ebay auction prices should be lower, we can not handle the goods as already mentioned and in various extra ways problems can occur. However, there can be a fantastic variety of items to choose from, you can pick up bargains and I frequently enjoy buying and selling with what turn out to be nice people. With a bit of effort and experience (and a few questions to sellers) you are more likely to avoid the bad sellers and items. Have realistic expectations and bid accordingly, there are always more fish in the sea if you miss out on something.

As a 'hobby' seller on ebay I have only had one problem (touch wood), a buyer gave an incorrect postcode and the item was eventually returned to me. As a buyer my problem transactions (usually to do with condition) could generally have been avoided if I had been a little more careful.

John.

Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: flying free on March 26, 2011, 09:40:05 PM
Quote In contrast every early piece of Mdina (1972 and before) I have handled has a ground and polished base apart from the textured vases (polished pontil). I appreciate this is far from definitive.

John, I was just browsing around looking at various posts and came across this one.   I don't know whether as time has moved on, thoughts have changed anyway on the above, but I have two (what I believe to be) early Mdina vases and they both have polished pontils.
The one attached is a flattened globe vase.  The other that I have posted on here before is an amethyst inkwell.
m
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: glassobsessed on March 26, 2011, 10:11:56 PM
This is an oldish thread..... :-[
One of my inside out vases has a polished out pontil mark too.

Your vase is very nice. :mrgreen:
I think they are referred too as squat vases rather than flattened globes, I am still looking for one (for various reasons I have always failed to buy one when they occasionally appeared on ebay in the last couple of years, mostly involving forgetfulness).

I think of this huge and heavy beast as a flattened globe vase: https://picasaweb.google.com/Johnmj100/EarlyMdinaGlass#5443333951898966546
It has been 'dipped' in the same manner as the fish vases.

John
Title: Re: Mdina/IOW globe vase
Post by: flying free on March 26, 2011, 10:20:04 PM
ooh I love that one! gorgeous colours in it as well.  Yes I refer to mine as my squat vase (see photo titles  ;D) but I didn't know that was what they were called.  I can see why the upright flattened from back to front would be called a flattened vase.  Just thought I'd list it for future searchers as I get very confused by all the toings and froings at Mdina and what would be early and what not.
m