Topic: Early Mdina etched signature

[WhatHo!]

Hi Guys, most of the early pieces that are just signed 'Mdina' are signed by Maria or Dobson with a dremel tool. Does anybody know of examples that are scratched on with a diamond point scribe (not including fully signed Harris pieces) ? Any info or pics would be very welcome.

[glassobsessed]

That is incorrect. A dremel was not used until afterr Harris left, during Harris' time it was a diamond point engraver, never seen anything scratch signed with a point.

John

[WhatHo!]

Thanks John, sorry I dont quite understand. Are you saying that you haven't seen any pieces that are scratch signed 'Mdina' only. And during the Harris period he either fully signed them or they were unsigned?

[chopin-liszt]

I have two pieces with the Mdina written in diamond point by Michael Harris. No more than "Mdina" is written.

Even into the '80s on the red stuff with blue spoldges, a diamond point marker has been used, I think - it's a thin, scratchy line and a loopy, rather than a spikey script.

[WhatHo!]

Excellent Sue, what type of pieces are these? Any chance of pics?

[chopin-liszt]

A short, round-shouldered, stoppered, squat ink pot and an early inside out (unprunted). Both in a very pale teal colour with loads of silver "comet" trails all around their surfaces.
I haven't got pics to hand, at the moment.

[Marc1976]

Had this paperweight.

[chopin-liszt]

That's odd - that really looks like Michael Harris' writing, but it's hard to see it properly. I really would not have expected to see him having bothered scribbling on the bottom of a paperweight!
Can you try rubbing some talc over the mark and retaking the pic, Marc?

These are the 2 bits I have with his writing on the bottom. The ink pot has a round polished pontil mark, the inside-out, just a flat polished base. I don't have images of the marks.

[Marc1976]

Hi Sue.

I don't have the piece any longer, I'll try fiddling with the image and repost.

[Marc1976]

Hope this is better.