Topic: Tall bottle vase similar to earthtones pattern Mdina?

[strayanglo]

Help please

Very tall bottle type vase 75cm ish
Pattern resembles that of Mdina's earthtones but the brown has a more red hue to it.

thanks all

Alix

[chopin-liszt]

Have you checked the current Mdina website?
It looks a little like a very old Earthtones pattern, but the size and shape suggest to me very recent production.

Reds found in the browns was a common feature in old Mdina - because it was red glass, coloured further to brown, with silver from silver nitrate salts which were introduced. Just not all of it got changed to brown.

But the shade of red isn't right for that, and the texture of the yellow frothy background is too "flat" and in combination with the shape, all says it's new, if it is Mdina.

[strayanglo]

Thanks, I have tried doing a little more research and comparing colours and patterns and was wondering if this could possibly be Malta Decorative Glass? This also has a broken pontil if that makes any difference.

[chopin-liszt]

I can't see close enough to the texture in the reds to work out if it could possibly be Boffo's execution of the Earthtones design. If it's him, there will be striations - very similar to old fashioned stained glass, within the reds and there will be streaky browns in it too.
But it is not in any sort of "grid" formation, which is what is most typical of his work.

There's something about the shape that makes me suspect something quite new.

I have encountered some new recycled glass from Africa, its made by Besmo, which is also incredibly similar to Earthtones, but the yellow in the glass comes from silver foil, and it's just streaky browns strapped over and marvered into it. I found it in the Natural History Museum in London, in the shop. (ethnic goods sort of thing).

It could also just be a studio piece.

[strayanglo]

I will take some closer photos. I understand what you are saying but there seems to be too many signs of age related wear for it to be a new piece. However I am no expert

[chopin-liszt]

Age-related wear can happen in 5 years easily, if something is moved around enough.
It's only a sort of feature to look for, it adds to your impression of something, but it doesn't always mean anything.
I'm attaching a couple of good illustrations of Boffo's execution of this design at MDG.
And an image of a group of MDG pieces.

[glassobsessed]

75cm is way bigger than any Mdina bottle I have ever seen, twice as tall as many. I suspect this is very recent production and not Mdina.

John

[chopin-liszt]

I agree with you, John. (unless it's recent production we don't know anything about).

[Greg.]

I think I may be inclined to go with Sue's Besmo African glass suggestion after just seeing this labelled Besmo candidate:

http://ebay.eu/1mTUNS2