Topic: Mdina frigger ! Woopeee !!

[Baked_Beans]

This looks like an Angler fish ! Not  signed to base but defo. Mdina colours . ( & I havn't mentioned the name Boffo at all !!)   :wsh:

[Baked_Beans]

The height to the top of the tail is 10cm. The lower lip is longer than the top one (it's not chipped) and there are two indented eyes which don't show in the photos. I've added a close shot of some bubbles.

[glassobsessed]

It's lovely, loads of character.
The swirly enamel colours in the base are a bit reminiscent of the ducks and fish that Patrick posted here: http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,38461.0.html

The use of white enamel is not what I associate with Mdina from the time period you are interested in but it was used at Malta Decorative Glass and of course later at Mdina and no doubt at all the other glassworks in Malta. This whale has plenty of white (underneath all that amber): http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,40609.msg225043.html#msg225043

John

[Baked_Beans]

Thanks John very much for your reply.

I'm glad you like it ! What struck me about it is how ugly the fish is. There is no attempt at making it look attractive for tourists to buy and yet it is artistic and different. The base of course reminded me of the Mdina horses . Interesting to know about the use of white on Malta. I know ,to sart with, a limited range of colours were imported into Malta when Mdina first started.

I've managed to buy a copy of Mark Hill's book (Michael Harris, Mdina Glass & Isle of Wight Studio Glass) at an antique's fair in Bristol and had a long chat with Ron Wheeler who was kind enough to spend some time with me, which really has  boosted an interest in this area . It's all very intrigueing !

ta again,  Mike.

[glassobsessed]

Not an ugly fish at all, very pretty.

[chopin-liszt]

Far nicer than the 'orrible 'orses!

(But it's absolutely not a frigger. Friggers are novelty pieces, made by apprentices in much older times, to show off their skills in guild and trade parades.)

John, if Vicente Boffo didn't leave until '77, he could have encountered white enamel at Mdina.

[chriscooper]

Hi Mike, 'frigger' can be interpreted in many ways, novelty items like walking sticks and glass slippers, oversized/undersized items in non- catalogued sizes or colours are often described 'friggers'  made by the blowers at the end of the day maybe with left over glass sometimes to test their skills or just to create a 'one off' for themselves and many 'unfinished' pieces disappeared at the end of the shift and turned up for sale down the pub and are now be found in many collections.
Mick Payne of Whitefriars showing off some of his unique 'friggers'
http://www.whitefriars.com/bb_orig/viewtopic.php?t=4306&highlight=frigger
Another frigger......
http://www.whitefriars.com/bb_orig/viewtopic.php?t=3613&highlight=frigger
Dave Nash another W/f blower describing his friggers
http://www.whitefriars.com/my_photo.php?Owner=Dave+Nash&Id=3703
And again describing another of his friggers.....
http://www.whitefriars.com/my_photo.php?Owner=Dave+Nash&Id=3704
A link to his gallery here includes some Boffo pieces I know will interest you.
http://www.whitefriars.com/my_gallery.php?Owner=Dave+Nash


Chris

[Baked_Beans]

Ta Sue & Chris,

Love Wolfie's ' Fab Frigger Fest '...what a feast !! I think friggers must be born out of the bordom of mass production ....as highlighted by that old counter (made in Bristol, U.S.A. ) !

[chopin-liszt]

No, they're not born out of boredom, honest - they were to show off the skills of the apprentices. Other things are one-offs or experimental pieces.
However, wfs afficionados do seem to use "frigger" to refer to one-offs and experimental bits as well.

[rosieposie]

And I was just about to ask what the term Frigger meant,  now it is all crystal clear....I thnk!