Topic: Mdina glass bowl

[VintageMissy]

Posting on behalf of Helen & Douglas House hospice charity

We have been given a lovely glass bowl approx 6.5 inches in diameter

The base is engraved Mdina

I wonder if anyone could help me identify and possibly date the piece please. The item will be sold to raise funds for the charity.

Many thanks in advance
Sarah

[Lustrousstone]

Nice colours. Strictly it's an ashtray, not a bowl.

[chopin-liszt]

I would say early '70s, probably during the period Eric dobson was in charge, maybe  even while Michael Harris was still there.
These are rather gorgeous and complex pieces, containing the "crizzle" effect in the clear glass of the bowl, and this particular one has amethyst strapping around it - rather more unusual than blue. Each one is unique.
I think these are lovely - and currently highly under-rated.

[VintageMissy]

Thanks for your replies. I did think it was an ashtray - just in the habit of describing things as bowls intead so they appeal to more buyers in this trade  :thup:

They don't sell to sell for much online so probably one for our shops to sell. If you were pricing the piece what would you ask? :chky:

[chopin-liszt]

What sort of area is your shop in?
Do you have customers who will pay decent prices for good items or do you get the type who haggle and try to beat every price down; "because you get if for free in the first place"?
I know what it is, I like it, I'd give a charity I supported £25 for it.

[VintageMissy]

The shop where this piece was donated is in the Cotswolds so yes we can definately get a good price for it there. £25 sounds very reasonable for this - I would happily pay that if it was something I collected too.

Thanks ever so much for all your help

[glassobsessed]

Theses are seen far more often with blue and green trailing rather than the (rather nice) amethyst that this bowl has.

John

[VintageMissy]

Sounds like it is a little more unusual so perhaps one for online sale rather than shop sale so that it can find its own market. Thanks everyone for all your help - we'll give it a go online
x

[chopin-liszt]

The trouble is that your online market hasn't caught up with how good these bits are yet - I'm afraid you're chatting to serious, hard-core Mdina collectors here - we know it's an unusual, probably early and very good piece, especially with the amethyst trailing but online all "they" know about are Fish vases and crizzle stones.

You'd probably get more for it in the shop, you can give the info. about it though, send your potential buyers here if you like, to read this.

And try a bit more than the £25, if you've got a good customer base.
It's a serious bit of glass - it will go up in value once folk do realise what it is!
The suggested £25 is to keep it in line(-ish) with the current (low, but growing) collector base for these non fish and crizzle stone bits.

(I used to be an Oxfam shop bric-a-brac "lady" - I know getting this sort of thing both right and getting it sold is not always easy! Good luck!
And clean it if it's mucky. You get better prices for clean stuff.  :thup: )

[VintageMissy]

Thanks Sue. I set it to go live online yesterday evening and I've given all the information you guys gave me so we'll see how it goes there. If it doesn't sell there I will return it to the shop with the same information so that they can sell it.

I've had some interest already though so fingers crossed

Best wishes
Sarah