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Author Topic: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature  (Read 1615 times)

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Offline Martyn57

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Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« on: February 11, 2019, 10:18:08 AM »
I have a few signed Michael Harris pieces and recently the attached has come up for sale. It looks to be a fine piece of Mdina Glass but the signature troubles me as it differs from those in my collection.
I’d welcome your thoughts as to its likely authenticity please. Many thanks.

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Offline glassobsessed

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #1 on: February 11, 2019, 11:11:58 AM »
Lovely Fish vase, are the wings a pale blue instead of clear glass?

The signature looks absolutely fine, it matches a couple of sigs on these pieces nicely, these two:

John

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Offline chopin-liszt

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2019, 11:31:43 AM »
I think it's fine too. He's was just using a slightly different tool, this one seems to have some vibration rather than being a diamond point.
Cheers, Sue M. (she/her)

‘For every problem there is a solution: neat, plausible and wrong’. H.L.Mencken

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Offline glassobsessed

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2019, 11:36:36 AM »
That is exactly how a (motorised) diamond point engraver works...

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Offline chopin-liszt

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #4 on: February 11, 2019, 11:51:34 AM »
 :) Yes, but he didn't always use an electric one, sometimes it was just a diamond tipped pen.
Cheers, Sue M. (she/her)

‘For every problem there is a solution: neat, plausible and wrong’. H.L.Mencken

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Offline glassobsessed

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2019, 01:07:10 PM »
Just had a look at some of his signatures with a loupe and you are spot on Sue, never noticed that before.

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Offline chopin-liszt

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2019, 01:12:37 PM »
I found the marks from non electrified ones mostly on early bits where the word Mdina was written by Michael Harris. It's written in the middle of a polished pontil mark and very easy to see that it's just a plain pen. I was worried when i first saw vibrated ones.
Cheers, Sue M. (she/her)

‘For every problem there is a solution: neat, plausible and wrong’. H.L.Mencken

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Offline Martyn57

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2019, 03:09:35 PM »
Thank you so much John and Sue for your really helpful comments. You’re absolutely right, it was the
Vibration in the signature that worried me. My other pieces are all plain diamond engraved and I thought I had read that Michael didn’t use a motorised engraver or vibropen. If he did though then I am much happier. It does look a beautiful fish vase and the wings are blue.   Many thanks again.

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Offline chopin-liszt

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2019, 05:47:20 PM »
Early IoWSG signed bits tend to have the vibration. He must have managed to get hold of an electric pen before he left Mdina.

 :o I've just noticed, you say this has just come up for sale? (I thought you'd already bought it)
Do you own the photographs? If not, do you have permission to post them here, from the owner?

If not, they will have to be removed for copyright reasons. The board is liable.
You are welcome to post a link to the sale, so that copyright does stay with the owner.



Cheers, Sue M. (she/her)

‘For every problem there is a solution: neat, plausible and wrong’. H.L.Mencken

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Offline Martyn57

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Re: Is this a genuine Michael Harris signature
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2019, 06:48:02 PM »
Good call Sue - I don’t know if I can edit my post so are you able to remove the pictures for me please?  They come from an auction catalogue so are almost certainly copyright.  If I buy the piece I will happily add my own photos here for completeness should any other enthusiasts want to compare.
Many thanks again for your help with my inquiry.

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