Topic: help with id please on Mdina coloured wt.

[Paul S.]

had forgotten this item till today  -  the colours look like some of the Mdina colours I see, although admit I'm not a Mdina collector.   60mm wide  x  47mm high, and the quality I think is fairly good, although quite prepared to hear that it is Chinese.  Am I right in thinking the holes in the bases of wts. are vent holes??   Grateful if someonw cud spare a moment to look at these pics.  thanks   Paul S.

[w84it]

Hi there.

Looks a definite Mdina to me.

And not sure what you mean by 'holes'.

If it's the mark in the centre of the base, that could be what's left of the pontil mark after the base has been cut and the pontil (almost) ground out.   There's another recent chain on the GMB about pontils.

Cheers.

Keith

[keith]

I'd agree,Mdina,does this look familiar?

[KevinH]

Some paperweights were actually made with a hole in the base - those that are blown as hollow weights were made that way, but the hole was always covered with a small section of glass or possibly a plug of some kind.

The part of the base of other weights that may look like a hole is simply clear glass. It is the part of the first gather of clear glass that is "hidden" by the punty iron when the outer colour is added, but which becomes visible after the weight is cracked off the punty.

Or is that not what was meant by the "holes in the base of weights"?

[Paul S.]

thanks to everyone for their replies, and my apologies if the terminology was a little unclear.   There is a small hole (abut 1 - 1.5mm) in the centre of the base, and I'm assuming from Keith's comments that this is the remainder of of the pontil mark.  I will look again this evening.   Thanks for the confirmation of Mdina, and this wt. is starting to grow on me now - I will certainly keep it.   Were the wts. not signed like so many of the other Mdina pieces that I see with the a signature?    cheers    Paul S.

[keith]

Not an expert on Mdina but it seems some are signed some have stickers some neither,have included pic's of two similar weights one unmarked the other with label and signature,Keith.

[Paul S.]

thanks again Keith  -  although must admit that had I seen yur most recent pics. I wud not have automatically thought of Mdina.   They are however, attractive.   Whilst in a charity shop lunchtime i picked up a Mdina (signed wt.) which I'm sure you will know  -  it is the type which looks a little like the knight from a chess set.  i.e. the horses head atop the ball wt.   I was hoping to get it cheaply, but the assistant saw the signature and said she wud have to get it valued  -  so I guess I might not end up with it.   cheers    Paul S.

[keith]

They are very common and it should not be too much although some charity shops tend to overcharge for some reason,more pic's included,Keith.