Topic: Possible Mdina pulled ear vase?

[ktinkley]

This came as part of an auction lot and once I'd managed to soak the gunk off it, I was struck by it's quality - having googled extensively I found this forum, and it seems like it might be a Mdina pulled ear vase, however, I'm slightly concerned because it isn't signed, that it might be a fake.  I'm not familiar enough with the form to be confident that it's real.

I'm planning on car booting it because it's not really my area of interest but don't want to either unsell it or over egg it!! Can anyone help me indentify it - or tell me what i'd be looking for if it was a fake?

[Baked_Beans]

Looks like one to me ,others (Mdina experts ! ) should be able to give you an approximate date (I hope)....might need some better photos.

I would suggest ebay where it will meet it's true value if you are unsure.

Cheers, Mike

[ktinkley]

Thanks Mike - I have to say once I'd photographed it, the flash makes it look much more like the pictures I've seen on here!  I think the dull skies here at the moment haven't been doing it any favours.  I'll take some better pictures tomorrow.

[Baked_Beans]

That would be great, the white streaks look interesting and could give a clue for the date ....a white background and a good base shot would be perfect  ! Cheers, Mike

[chopin-liszt]

It's not a "pulled-ears", it's a "side-stripe". 

What I cannot tell from your photograph, and this is very important, is if the applied side stripes are of clear or coloured glass.

If they are coloured, you have something very special and scarce, if they are clear, you just have a very nice side stripe.
We really do need to see better images, please.
Lack of a mark on early Mdina doesn't mean anything, fakes are unlikely and mostly tend to be dremmelled Michael Harris signatures rather than somebody emulating the glass itself.

[ktinkley]

oooh! that could be exciting - though from past experience every time I think I found something really rare, it's an almost  - which is why I keep this a hobby rather than a job!  I took these outside and the blue which came up under the flash isn't as visible but it has brought the yellow alive even though the sun wasn't that bright and kept dashing behind clouds.  It does show the little 'dink' near the base which I found this morning which is a shame as it's otherwise perfect.

Would be interested to hear people's thoughts - finding out more about the things I discover in the bottom of my random filthy auction boxes is the best bit about the process for me!

[ktinkley]

Obviously the picture attached to the post are quite small, so I've tried to create fb album with higher quality pics in -

[chopin-liszt]

The first images are fine. They could be made to blow up bigger, but I can see your piece now.
It is a pulled ear, not a side stripe.
It doesn't even look like the same thing, in the different pictures.

Glass isn't easy to photograph well - it's 3-D, photos are 2-D.

The browny-yellow colouring would make it a fairly early piece - most pulled ears are fairly early. Give it a whirl on ebay, you'd probably get more there than at a boot sale. Sorry to have to tell you, you are not looking at retiring.
But you never know what might be lurking at the bottom of the next box, any more glass queries will be most welcome.

[ktinkley]

  glad I didn't get too excited then lol

It was a nightmare to photograph, I think it needs mediterranean sun for a start!  I'm still washing and searching for marks/matching designs etc on all the other pieces, but it seems like the person it came from (they're house clearance items mostly) had a bit of thing for nice glass, not sure I'll be able to retire on this box, but it makes it more fun to go through!

Thanks for taking the time to reply - I will ebay as I notice I can link through here for a kickback for the site and always like to help keep forums alive and kicking!

[chopin-liszt]

There is a whole load of techie info here on posting images directly to the board and the way to do the resizing.
You'll just need to find the right set of instructions for the systems you use.

http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/board,22.0.html

We're always happy to answer any questions about glass - questions are how we get to answers, and that is why we're here.
We do appreciate any comments left on ebay when things have been id'd here.  The board has quite a good reputation, so it helps your sale too. Thank-you for your thoughtfulness, it's much appreciated.