Topic: Looks Like Mdina, But Signed NBK?

[Clive]

Large 10cm paperweight looks like the classic Sea and Sand pattern - but it's signed with what looks like NBK. Does anybody have any idea who this is by and where? As always I'm eternally grateful to those who know stuff!
Thanks.
Clive

[chopin-liszt]

I just wrote a long reply but it told me there were issues with posting it. I edited to remove an image I suspected of causing trouble, but then everything went haywire and I wasn't allowed to post it, because it told me I already had, but it's not here and it's all lost.

I'll have to come back with my longer illustrated story. But to summarise:-
The paperweight is right, it is Mdina. Early stuff.
It's the mark that is possibly mildly dodgy. But even then, there could be perfectly good reasons for that.

[Clive]

Thanks - I look forward to the longer post!
Clive

[chopin-liszt]

  When I bought mine it was in the very early days of ebay, and it was listed as being 12 inches in diameter.
Although it is a really big weight, I was very miffed as I was expecting something the size of a rugby ball.
I'm going to split the tale in two. So I can illustrate.

These big weights in this decor are early pieces. When things were not all standardised and it was an "all hands on deck" sort of set-up, just trying to get the business going and established.
At some point, it was decided to put "signatures" on some of the larger or better pieces, to see if that helped sales. These marks were made mostly by Marie, who worked in the office, or by Eric Dobson, the manager. They do not actually "read" anything in particular.
Here are images of first Marie's mark and second Dobson's mark

[chopin-liszt]

There are other signature marks which have been found.
I have not been able to find out anything about this one attached.
Sometimes you might find the word Mdina written in Michael Harris' hand.

So it is perfectly possible somebody had a few free minutes and put some initials on your weight at the factory.
It is also possible that the marks were made by somebody who owned it, to mark it as theirs.
I've had that happen before too.

I think that's it. I got in a total tangle with the photos before.

[chopin-liszt]

I think this might be another "incarnation", and there might be another still.
I know what bit of glass it's on. I'm not sure where to find a photo of it. I'm relying on stuff rescued from windoze 7, rescued from 95. Can't work any of this new stuff

The bottom line is you really do not need to worry about your "signature". It tells you it was regarded as a good thing when it was made, if the mark was made at the factory. And it looks well enough done that I don't think it was "done at home by the owner". They'd have made a mess of it if they didn't have any engraving or dremmelling experience.