Topic: Mdina Globe Vase - Mdina Script Help Required.........

[Greg.]

Hi,

Looking for some clarification on the signing of the 'Mdina' signature on this early globe vase, which measures approximately 6 inches tall and high.

Wondering if this was applied by Michael Harris due to the thinly executed nature of the script..? (please see pic 3)

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Greg
 

[chopin-liszt]

I think it is far to big and too uneven to be Michael Harris - it does however, look a bit like Dobson's script.
When Michael Harris has put Mdina on a base - it looks almost as if a line had been ruled under the word to keep the letters even. His writing is quite tiny.

(I am sitting with a couple of MH Mdina-only scripts in my mitts)

[jonchellycain]

Harris didnt do the long lines on the tail of the A either. I have a paperweight currently listed, with the Harris Mdina writting, if you compare it with the harris script on the IOW signed PW i have, the writting is the same size and almost identical (hard to tell from the pics though as the IOW mark doesnt show up as well on photographs because of the colouring
Plus what Sue says about it being straight, You can actually put a ruler under the mark on mine and almost every letter sits perfectly on the same line
https://picasaweb.google.com/112538457954992188877/Mdina#5625185333994518082
https://picasaweb.google.com/112538457954992188877/IsleOfWight#5625420399736583954
michelle

[chopin-liszt]

Ummm - the a on the one I'm looking at now has a great long tail, curling upwards - it's almost like a w, (but that is an unusual feature).

[glassobsessed]

Here is a Harris version: http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11858

There are other examples of his script in that album too, MH was highly skilled with an engraver.

John

[jonchellycain]

haha well there you go Sue, all my Harris ones have had a short tail, never seen a long tailed one. The one shown on page 132 of Mark Hill's book has the short tail too
Can you pop a pic on so i can see it please, I have a couple more pieces that i have always thought not to be his as they have the long tail. Im quite excited now, I may have more than i first thought
thanks michelle

[Greg.]

Thanks all, the comparison are useful, always good to have a handful to compare against.

On the aspect of date, I was initially drawn to this piece because of the shape and button rim....I tentatively presume it would be safe to assume that this would have been produced before 1972?

Thanks,
Greg

[chopin-liszt]

Dobson stayed on after MH left - but I don't know for certain how long. I'm sort of assuming until about '75, as that was when Said took charge.
Give me a wee whiley to sort some pics........

[Greg.]

My thoughts were that Dobson was also around until the mid 70s, however, the shape and rim indicated that it was likely to be pre 72 in date.

Just to touch on the subject of the Harris scripted Mdina mark, I see that although MH signed many pieces, that this is not a guarantee that the piece was personally made by him...

[chopin-liszt]

Michael Harris did not sign many pieces Greg!
He was always very reluctant to do so. Some of the bits for the American market were signed, as they were a bit more insistent about it. A fiar few Japanese Globe vases were signed - this was, I beliveve, a small experiment to see if it made them sell better.
I am of the opinion that the bits I have with his script on the base are his work. I would have that opinion of these bits without his script on the base too.

ok, pics. All of these are very early pieces.

Two MH scripts, one on an early inside-out pot, the other one an early ink pot (the long "a" one) (both on blue/green glass)

Two Dobson scripts, both on early ink pots. (both on amethyst glass)