Topic: mdina glass bird help

[amigabee]

Hi I have just become the proud owner of my first piece of Mdina art glass. I love the paperweight but I am now believing that I was cheated by the store. It is a bird (maybe a robin or sparrow) he is quite large and bulbous around its middle. All the examples I can find on the net seem to be small and slimmer than mine. I will not say my little bird is overweight as it may upset him lol. It is signed mdina on the base and has a medina label. I do not want valuation I would simply like to know if this could be a vintage version and hence worth the $140 I paid for it as all the ones I see online are around $20 australian and that is quite a difference. Please help me as I have never bought glass before and relied on an honest face to advise me and now I have doubt. Even dating him would help.
Yours Thankfully
Carron

[antiquerose123]

 :hi: and Welcome to the Forum.  :rah:

What is the Size of your birdie there?  In comparison to the price you paid of $140 for him.

I am not sure as I found a Paperweight here in the bargain Bin......and not sure of the going price for these --- but I am (thinking) you might have over-paid.

I think his face (might) not have been Honest . 

Shame on him (maybe) .....but I do not know the Size of your birdie yet in regards to the price you paid....unless your birdie is real big () That sounds like a lot of $$$$$$

[chopin-liszt]

He's a nice one, but I'm afraid you did rather overpay for him. 
The splodgy patterns were introduced by Joseph Said in the '80s, he's definitely post-Harris ('68 - '72).

Just enjoy him, we all make mistakes, it's how we learn, and the bottom line is you liked him and got your purse out. It's not the end of the world.

However, if you want to stick around and ask questions, you'll learn a whole load about glass here - but be warned - it's addictive.
Welcome!

[johnphilip]

Dont worry Rose , i bet a lot of the fellas on this forum have spent a lot more on an old bird , a few young ones to .
                                                                :chky:

[amigabee]

:hi: and Welcome to the Forum.  :rah:

What is the Size of your birdie there?  In comparison to the price you paid of $140 for him.

I am not sure as I found a Paperweight here in the bargain Bin......and not sure of the going price for these --- but I am (thinking) you might have over-paid.

I think his face (might) not have been Honest . 

Shame on him (maybe) .....but I do not know the Size of your birdie yet in regards to the price you paid....unless your birdie is real big () That sounds like a lot of $$$$$$

I have measured him as best I can, here goes...tip of head to table is 14 cm, around his middle is 28cm, his tail is 5 cm long and 4 1/2 cm at its widest point. I really appreciate you help Thank you

[chopin-liszt]

 

Wow - that's one Big Bird. I haven't seen another that big - so you do have something a bit unusual.  :thup:

I believe Mdina are currently making big animals, but these have plastic labels on them, yours, having it's paper label (and this particular colourway, with splodges) is clearly earlier.

[amigabee]

He is quite large but I would still like more info on him. Any ideas where else I can look?

[Lustrousstone]

I don't think you will find much information on him; Sue has given you as much as you are likely to get. You could try asking the glass studio http://www.mdinaglass.net/

Unfortunately, the 1980s "splodgy" Mdina is less collectable than the early stuff and some of the other later ranges.

I agree with Sue and Rose in that you overpaid.

[chopin-liszt]

There are two distinct sorts of splodgy patterns.
The most common is a white splodged background with a single patch of coloured splodges - this pattern, where 4 sets of different coloured splodges are set around the piece is a bit more unusual.

He is a bit special - for splodgy Mdina.

Do you know anything about the history of Mdina at all?

[amigabee]

I know I have a fat splodgy bird lol apart from that I know little except that the it was started in malta I believe.