Topic: IOW trial piece?

[Scott13]

Hi....I was wondering ( perhaps optimistically) whether this cylinder vase might be an IOW trial 'tortoiseshell' piece.
It's quite thick walled and heavy ( 685gms) for it's size ( 15cms x 7cms ).
It has a polished broken Pontil.
However hard I look I can't see any semblance of either a flame or coachbolt!
Any comments/opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks

[chopin-liszt]

Given the white in it, and the general thickness and lumpiness, I would suspect trial early Mtarfa over trial early IoWSG. I have a sort of swagged pink and white bit, quite similar, also unmarked, but which I am sure is Mtarfa.

[David E]

Another thought is Phonecian, or perhaps Gozo

[glassobsessed]

Alum Bay to my eye, the colours if not the shape.

John

[Scott13]

Well I now know that my vase isn't an IOWSG piece!
I must say I hadn't thought of the Maltese glass makers.
And, if it is from Alum Bay, at least I can console myself by thinking that i hadn't been too off the mark; geographically speaking, of course!
Anyway,many thanks to you all for taking the time to offer opinions.
Regards Scott

[glassobsessed]

Alum Bay have been very helpful in the past with enquiries, you could contact them and ask about your vase (if only to rule them out).

Their website: http://www.alumbayglass.co.uk/

[Scott13]

Thanks for providing Alum Bay's website John, I'll contact them and see if they can help.
Regards Scott

[chopin-liszt]

 
Any chance of a pic of the polished broken pontil mark?
I'm not quite sure what is meant by polished and broken.

Isle of Wight Studio Glass is very closely related to the Maltese studios.

[Scott13]

Hi---I'm having some difficulty in getting a good pic of the Pontil---i'll do my best!
Perhaps the term I should have used is ' fire polished'? The Pontil looks like a broken one without the sharp edges.
Thanks, Scott

[chopin-liszt]

That's the remnants of a pontil scar in a flat, polished base. 
Very typical of early Maltese, but I don't think it's Mdina and certainly not Gozo.

The pontil rod (or puntee rod) is the metal rod the glass is blown on. Not the mark left by it when it is removed, that's the pontil mark (or scar).

A fire polished pontil scar would be a lumpy but smooth mark.