Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. > Malta Glass
Mdina and the Boffos
Maria Rosaria Attard:
Hi,back again !
The last posting went through so here l go.
First of all l must apologize to Elizabeth Harris,l was so taken aback with her statement and too quick in answering that l made a mistake as well.They were at my engagement party and not wedding,so their leaving Malta maybe correct but for sure they returned to open a small factory in Gozo.
Ettore joined Mdina Glass in October 1969 as production manager,my father Vincenzo Boffo (Vincent) joined Ettore in July 1970 as head craftman and to teach the young Maltese,Joseph Said was one of the first boys to work there. The Boffo were called in when orders started coming in and production needed to be increased,Mike Harris was an artist and as such each peace of his work was one of and as you all know production need many of the same kind as requested by the orders.
In February 1970 Ettore was very sick,Doctors gave him 10 days,but we had him for 10 more months,he worked on and off till the end.
August 1970 Jim Munelli joined Mdina Glass. My father Vincenzo could not bear working at Mdina Glass any longer after Ettore passed away and when approached by the MDG if if would consider taking a post with them he accepted.He never received an "Ultimatum " so much so he lived the rest of his life in Malta.Ettore children,two boys Peter and Steve and his wife Renate continued coming every year to stay with us,it was Steve last week when he was over to tell me about this site and show me some of the comments.
Some of the work like the Dolphin,fish and others were made by both Boffo's as an extra allowed them,to make in their own time ones a week. l hope this will be of help to some, l am ready to give any other information you may want to ask.
Thank you again for all the nice words spoken about my dearest father and brother,it filled me with joy to read them after so many years.
Best regars to all,thank you again for the warm welcome
Maria Rosaria
Patrick:
Hi Maria,
Once again you are a shining star ................ Thank you so much for re posting your lost message.
This-afternoon Wolfie was going to phone Jim Munelli and tell him the news about your contact. Unfortunately Wolfie has had to go out on an urgent mission so he will probably do it tonight.
I have a beautiful elephant that your father made when he worked for Whitefriars. It was made for the lady who was the manager of the factory shop.
Do you have any of his glass animals ? It would be wonderful to see pictures ...... :)
All best wishes,
Patrick.
Maria Rosaria Attard:
Hi,sorry but l have to make a correction,Ettore was taken ill in February 1971 not 1970.
Patrick,l had a look at your topic,it took me back in time you have a lovely collection,made me regret not keeping more of the glass my father kept bringing home............... l gave so much away,used to tell him stop bringing things we have no more space!! How silly l was.
Patrick did you never have a sitting dog? Or lizard ? They were made in the same way as the standing horses.
l would love to hear from Jim Munelli,he surprised me by turning up at my front door last summer,have lost his address maybe Wolfie could pass on to me his Email. I will need my husband's help for the photos and to post them, l am not very good with the computer,surprised l managed this far.
Good evening to all
Maria Rosaria
chopin-liszt:
Thank-you so much for persevering with the evils of computery stuff so that you can tell us all this! :)
Here's a couple of pictures of some Art Glass from MDG, I hope at least some of it was made by your Dad. 8)
The third image is of jugs made at Mdina.
Patrick:
--- Quote from: Maria Rosaria Attard on November 17, 2014, 05:39:10 PM ---
Patrick did you never have a sitting dog? Or lizard ? They were made in the same way as the standing horses.
Maria Rosaria
--- End quote ---
Hi ,
No, I only have an MDG sitting dog........( Similar to the image of Baked Beans dogs below )
However I have spoken to a Whitefriars gaffer that knew and watched Boffo making glass. He remembers him making lizards and he also remembers your dad selling them for £ 2.00 each ( for his beer money ).
Best wishes,
Patrick.
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