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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass Paperweights => Topic started by: born slippy on March 16, 2020, 10:00:17 PM

Title: Any idea for id? ID = Mtarfa
Post by: born slippy on March 16, 2020, 10:00:17 PM

If not maker, Country and era would be good thanks

Title: Re: Any idea for id?
Post by: born slippy on March 16, 2020, 10:00:52 PM

and its base

Title: Re: Any idea for id?
Post by: glassobsessed on March 17, 2020, 09:10:56 AM

Definitely Mtarfa.

John

Title: Re: Any idea for id?
Post by: born slippy on March 18, 2020, 11:23:17 PM

Thanks again! I had no idea Malta had other glass than Mdina, it's just another type I like :)

Title: Re: Any idea for id?
Post by: glassobsessed on March 19, 2020, 07:56:32 AM

I think this pattern is one of their older decors, sometimes the blobs get pulled into longer streaks through twisting.

Some more in this thread: https://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,33967.0.html

Title: Re: Any idea for id?
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 19, 2020, 08:38:51 PM

I've not seen any before with an *all deep blue* background, though!
I was collecting the muddy greeny coloured Mtarfa of this design, early on. Some bits have some cobalt blue through them, I rather treasure those ones, and i have a tall vase, with cobalt blue strapping on the outside.
I agree early Mtarfa, but unusual early Mtarfa. ;D

I've added some pics of Mtarfa with blue, Mtarfa without blue and my Mtarfa snail which is from the same sort of early period. I haven't got a pic of the tall vase with strapping.

Title: Re: Any idea for id?
Post by: glassobsessed on March 20, 2020, 08:19:24 AM

The blue effect may be due to the thickness of the glass in the paperweight - several inches, way thicker than any blown vessel.

Title: Re: Any idea for id?
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 20, 2020, 02:00:42 PM

Agreed.
If you are looking at at the bits that have blue in, it can get confusing with the blues that appear from the use of the silver salts, but if you look right at the top bit of the cylinder on the left, you can clearly see a patch of real blue glass, in a clear section. Pale, because it is so thin.  :)

Title: Re: Any idea for id? ID = Mtarfa
Post by: born slippy on March 21, 2020, 10:29:25 PM

What dates would be early Mtarfa? For me it has a 1960's look but an old feel like those green dump weights. When held to the light it looks like a solid, colourless, transparent inside but with colour at the top making it appear darker inside. Not sure if it shows in the pics, on the outmost layer of the glass is a silvery streak that begins wider at the base and tails of to a point on the opposite side.

Title: Re: Any idea for id? ID = Mtarfa
Post by: KevinH on March 21, 2020, 11:35:29 PM

Quote

For me it has a 1960's look but an old feel like those green dump weights. When held to the light it looks like a solid, colourless, transparent inside but with colour at the top making it appear darker inside.

I am not sure if you are linking the two sentences. However, "old dumpy weights" / "doorstops" were simply self-coloured in green or blue bottle glass.

Title: Re: Any idea for id? ID = Mtarfa
Post by: chopin-liszt on March 22, 2020, 12:14:26 PM

Mtarfa was founded in '81. I think this weight would be from fairly soon after.

Title: Re: Any idea for id? ID = Mtarfa
Post by: born slippy on March 22, 2020, 11:27:46 PM

Thank you for all your help, I find glass is so difficult to age :)