Topic: Mdina Globes for Perusal

[chopin-liszt]

I'm fairly sure perfume bottles weren't made at Mdina while MH was still there, although they've been made in vast numbers more recently.
IoWSG is another matter, perfume bottles became a part of their staple ranges fairly early on.

[rocket-vintage]

Im not sure. I think it's more likely that perfume bottles were made during Michaels time at Mdina as clearly the globe shape was designed & used by him.

[glassobsessed]

The globe shape has been around since the invention of glassblowing around 2000 years ago.

Mark Hill researched his book extensively and makes no mention of perfume bottles being produced before 1972, it's possible there were odd perfumes made, maybe as trials or commissions but they certainly do not appear to have been standard production items. If you wish to ignore his work and also the extensive experience of collectors then go ahead.

John

[Lustrousstone]

Sue and John are extremely serious Mdina collectors with particular passions for Michael Harris's work, though they don't like to word expert...

[chopin-liszt]

But you weren't to know! 

[glassobsessed]

That sounds as if I got out of bed the wrong side this morning, obviously far too serious today...

John

[chopin-liszt]

Have a nice cup of coffee and some good dark choccie.  :thup:

That'll sort your seriousness John - then maybe you'll rethink the 2000 years you mention  .... I'm fairly sure glassmaking has been around for at least 5000 years.  :kissy:

[glassobsessed]

5000 years for glassmaking yes, the technique for blowing glass was only invented about 2000 years ago. Before that glass vessels were only be made by core forming - a core of animal dung and clay was shaped onto a metal rod which was then dipped into molten glass, this then usually decorated with trailed glass and reheated and further shaped if required. Once the whole thing has cooled the core and rod are removed and a tool would be used to scrape out anything that remained of the core.

Most of this lot are core formed vessels: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=core+formed+glass&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=gDG&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=4YpGTsvjEIfAhAe_sYCTBg&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1431&bih=762

Beads made in this way may well go back more than 5000 years (possibly up to 8000 years ago on Rhodes).

John

[chopin-liszt]

 :pb:

(but I did say making, not blowing)

  You didn't warn me I needed a roll of kitchen paper before I opened that link! Now I've made a horrible mess dribbling.

[glassobsessed]

I've got a thing about core forming it really fascinates me.... :pb:

Some of the glass beads are stunning, decorated with faces and the like. You would have had to be seriously wealthy and/or powerful to own and use one of those core formed vessels about 5000 years ago. Objects were made with moulds too, either cast or pressed.

Once the Romans got into glass (and glassblowing) they produced bottles etc. on an industrial scale at various locations, much of this 'everyday' glass was decorated in some way too. The Roman Empire was a trading empire, you need to keep your fish sauce fresh if you want to sell it thousands of miles away and glass was the best substance for making vessels to do this (it is non porous).

John