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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: pamela on July 28, 2006, 09:26:03 PM

Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: pamela on July 28, 2006, 09:26:03 PM: http://www.pressglas-pavillon.de/misc/flacon.html

incredibly clear stopper - as a collector of pressed glass I've never seen such glass quality :? (this one belongs to my sister BTW)

Thank you for your time and comments :wink:

IOWSG :?:
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: Tigerchips on July 28, 2006, 09:32:53 PM: It looks like a Mdina signature to me. :?:
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: Anne on July 28, 2006, 09:39:03 PM: I think Mtarfa rather than Mdina... a not too good pic of my Mtarfa vase signature... here... http://yobunny.org.uk/gallery1/displayimage.php?pos=-597
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: Tigerchips on July 28, 2006, 09:48:37 PM: I also thought Mtarfa but I had no idea that they made irridescent glass (I am learning). Also, I thought the "T" might have been crossed for Mtarfa, I understand though that there can be differences with the marks.
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: pamela on July 28, 2006, 09:50:17 PM: Thank you Anne and Anthony - if I read that last a in the old-fashioned writing... could well be Mtarfa
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: Anne on July 28, 2006, 10:09:19 PM: Quote from: "Tigerchips"
I also thought Mtarfa but I had no idea that they made irridescent glass (I am learning). Also, I thought the "T" might have been crossed for Mtarfa, I understand though that there can be differences with the marks.

Me neither TC, it just looks like the sig on mine. I'm sure I have a website bookmark for them somewhere... let me check...

this is the one I have but its contents have gone awol again... http://www.mtarfaglass.com.mt/
- also Mdina glass is here: http://www.mdinaglass.net/
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: pamela on July 28, 2006, 10:17:38 PM: googled without success :twisted:
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: KevinH on July 28, 2006, 11:03:45 PM: Yes, Mtarfa have made iridescent wares.

Here's a vase I bought sometime around 1991, I think:
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-2674
And the signature (photo taken hand-held - vase in one hand, camera in the other, and under kitchen lighting!):
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-2673
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 29, 2006, 08:56:36 AM: :D:D:D

Hello Pamela :D - the signature reads Mtarfa.

I am sure! 8)
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: Lustrousstone on July 29, 2006, 01:22:40 PM: I agree. It's like the sig on my Mtarfa paperweight, which has lovely internal irridescence. Their older stuff is much nicer than the current range.
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: josordoni on July 29, 2006, 01:36:23 PM: They are brothers aren't they, the founders of Mdina and Mtarfa?

So no wonder the sigs look similar.

The down stroke in the middle is the giveaway, there is no decender on any letter in Mdina.
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 29, 2006, 02:04:36 PM: :D:D:D

Mdina was founded by Michael Harris, josordoni! (See the thread "origins of the studio glass movement") It is now run by Joseph Said, one of the original apprentices. His brother Paul Said runs Mtarfa, but also trained at Mdina.
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: David E on July 29, 2006, 02:21:39 PM: Mtarfa is c.1982 Sue? Something like that...
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: josordoni on July 29, 2006, 02:23:09 PM: Silly me, that is what I obviously meant, the people running it,not the founder. But it would make sense for their signatures to be similar wouldn't it! :?:
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: David E on July 29, 2006, 02:25:55 PM: They do often get mistaken and the glass has striking similarities. I have a couple of strapped glass vases that are unsigned, but I'm sure they are either Mdina or Mtarfa. Mtarfa labels often get retained, thankfully!
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: chopin-liszt on July 29, 2006, 02:33:28 PM: :D:D:D

Can you show me them, David, pretty please?

Ivo's "Fact File a-z" has Mtarfa Glassblowers Ltd. from c1975-present.
Title: A Perfume With Clear Stopper - Signed = Mtarfa
Post by: David E on July 30, 2006, 08:36:48 AM: I'll try and get them done today. Sorry, I've been a bit lax getting these Maltese pieces on the board: busy, busy, busy... :? :wink: