Topic: Michael Harris signature variations

[Nemmie]

In my travels recently and in certain online selling establishments I have seen a few pieces which are apparently signed by Michael Harris.

However they just seem to be an imitation of his hand. Unless his signature varied wildly from those in the book.

Has anyone else seen similar?

[glassobsessed]

I have been mulling over something similar for some time, I have an example of a signature on one piece that I have seen elsewhere on a few items and I think they are suspect. I have been told that they are kosher and that Harris changed his signature format for a short period but I still have my doubts. Actually, I think they are faked.

His signature could vary a little, no surprise really. To judge I look for one made with a diamond point engraver, the expected format and usually beautifully engraved well formed characters.  The signatures are found on items that were very well executed, those signatures that I suspect I have seen on items that I was surprised to find signed - they all lacked a little in some way or another.

John

[Nemmie]

Interesting, I am glad that someone has been thinking along the same lines.

The thing that makes me suspicious is that they seem more deliberate and slowly written (although I suppose this could just be to my eyes) and the letters that are distinctive such as the initial M the H and the two Rs are done in quite a similar style to Harris the other letters seem weak.

[chopin-liszt]

All my Mdina bits with pawmarks were bought before Mdina became at all well-known (I can't afford signed bits since it did!) and there is variation - but I think the variations are more to do with the sort of surface he was engraving - whether it was a nice flat bit, or on a curved bit or squashed into a small space.
I should mention that I rarely look at the signature - if it's got one, I'm not interested any more. There's no point in upsetting myself if it's a particularly nice piece!

There are some very obvious fakes around - where the prat doing the dremmelling can't spell Michael, has made no attempt to copy his writing style and it's not even on a bit of Mdina, far less on a piece from the correct period!

[glassobsessed]

All the dodgy Mdina variations I have seen have been one offs. Unlike the signatures that I suspect are wonky on IoWSG items, I have one example and have seen three or four others. They are all similar and engraved onto a particular colourway, I am reluctant to go into detail because I could well be wrong and I don't want to spread misinformation. There is a definite 'grouping' to these items which perhaps lends weight to

I have been told that they are kosher and that Harris changed his signature format for a short period

John