Topic: Indecipherable signature on trailed vase (confrmed as NOT William Walker)

[LarryB]

Good day,   The instant identification of my last posting impressed me greatly. This one might be more challenging:
This 12cm tall "gull's egg"-shaped vase has a thick external horizontal wrap-around trail with 3 prunts. Internally, there's an applied leaf-like pattern in pale blue/green. At 1.75kg, it's extremely heavy for its size. It brings to mind the style of early Mdina but the signature, which should be self-explanatory, is indecipherable to my eyes. The second word on the top line might - with the help of a vivid imagination - say "Mdina" in lower case (not the usual rolling script). On the bottom line the date could be either 1972 or 1992, depending on whether or not they are the "curly" continental-type of number 9's. The writing is very small, and is inscribed across the broken pontil mark. The hole on the top of the vase is a bit crude and uneven. However, the vase has - to my mind - great beauty. Any ideas, please? Thanks, Larry.

[flying free]

It looks like a William Walker signature to me
But I'm not entirely sure if that is his style - however I've not seen that many of his pieces. 
m

[LarryB]

Your suggestion of William Walker is inspired. His signatures seem inconsistent, but the "...alke.." part is a very good match. That leaves the issue of style, which doesn't seem to resemble any of his images I've come up with. This is a very long shot, but I'll ask the question anyway: wasn't there an association between William Walker and Michael Harris at the Isle of Wight, and, if so, could the letters on the bottom line read "IOW 1992"? I'll continue researching the William Walker possibility and keep you posted.

[flying free]

William has posted in the last few days on another thread.
I think the sig is a match for him, but you may be able to find the thread and link to yours and ask him directly.  He might receive an email notification of a reply if you post in the thread he posted on
m

[chopin-liszt]

Mr. Walker had occurred to me as well. 

I do hope he might be able to tell you himself!

[LarryB]

Alas, the bad news is that William Walker kindly contacted me to advise that it wasn't his work, and that, given its crudeness, could be a student piece from 1992.
The good news is that by now, 22 years later, that student could well be an established artist, in which case I am keener than ever to identify him and acquire more of his work. So the search continues.....

[flying free]

is it possible the first name reads Amanda?
and could we have pictures taken side on on a white base and background please?  It's terribly hard to see what is going on with the colours splashes in the glass and also the shape to be honest.
Thanks
m

[LarryB]

Herewith some more photographs which I hope are clearer. The trails, prunts, and the thick application on the face of the vase are complex and distort the shape, which makes it awkward to photograph. Two photographs show the L. and R. side, while no.3 is taken from slightly above and may give a clearer view of the way the glass has been applied. Re "Amanda", yes, it could be, on the basis that the second last letter is an upright, but the other letters are too blurred. Regards, Larry.

[chopin-liszt]

The thing I find with early work by somebody who goes on to become a well-established artist, is that the raw artistic talent generally shines through any "crudities".

I may be biased, I collect early Studio Glass. 

Those pics are far better! I still can't make much of the signature in the earlier ones though.
I can"see" Mdina, I can "see" Walker, I can "see" Amanda. I can even sometimes "see" Malta.
The only Amanda glassmaker I know of is A. Brisbane - who mostly does casts.

[flying free]

I 'see' Amanda Walker/Adkins WW 1997.  And my brain can't seem to 'see' if it reads anything else now 
Nicer pictures on white - thank you.
m