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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: glassobsessed on June 25, 2009, 03:32:50 PM
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Due to a day off of work and a trawl of some South Wales charity shops I am seeking opinions or info on this vase I bought today.
It appears to be a Mdina inside out vase with two 'facets' cut into it, it has a polished pontil and a sticker.
I have been checking the info in Mark Hill's book in relation to inside out vases, polished pontils and labels, as a result I am now a little confused (easily done).
The walls of the vase are quite thick, much thicker than the other inside out vase I have photographed with it. Although slightly smaller and having large quantities of glass removed in the cuts, the vase weighs over 1kg (as opposed to 600g for the one with the prunt), possibly indicating an early date (page 42).
Mark Hill does not mention exactly this type of label (page 133).
Has anyone seen an inside out vase like this before? Any thoughts on the pontil or paper label?
Thanks, John.
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Some more photos...
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:thup:
It's a fairly unusual early one from the period when Michael Harris was there, to my knowledge.
I have an absolute beauty and have seen three or four others - they're all different, depending on how deeply they're cut - mine goes right through to the clear glass layer, giving an "eye" effect, and it does weird reducing visual effects if I stick my thumb inside it.
I have been told they only ever had one pot of this deep cobalt blue glass melted, so pieces with this colour are quite hard to find.
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Oh my, Sue, thank you.
I was thinking it might have been quite early in date but was not certain, the very dark blue colour is also not familiar - very interesting. I was thinking of selling it but not a chance of that now (unless I find three more ;D).
Any chance of posting a photo of yours?
Many thanks, John.
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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/insideoutfromangle.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/insideoutlookingthrough.jpg
apologies for the lack of focus, and lack of thumb showing weird visual reduction effects inside too, but having one yourself, you'll get the idea.
I also have a fabby Chinese Key bowl with this blue on it - again, a very heavy piece.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/cobaltchinesebowl1.jpg
The base is like the inside out one.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/cobaltbottom.jpg
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Ron Wheeler at www.artiusglass.co.uk is your man. I'm sure he would love to see it. Drop him an email.
Mike www.abfabglass.co.uk
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Thank you for posting your photos Sue, I see what what you mean about the visual effects.
I like the look of your Chineses bowl especially with that nice colour swirl. Is it a different colour on the inside like some of the others?
Thank you Mike, I keep bumping into Ron at Malvern (I tend to notice his glass first and it takes me a while to say hello) and I have given him a poke via email.
John.
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The Chinese Key bowl is all sort of bubbly yellow inside, though it looks greenish because of the blues outside.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/insidecobaltbowl.jpg
Although the rim is slimmish, the bowl itself is much thicker, in a sort of graduated way, because of the extra layers of glass - it's over 1cm thick in the main.
It really is the most amazing 3-D sculpture in colour, pics will never do it justice. One of my favourite pieces.
I'm in regular contact with Ron, :thup: though I haven't sent him pics of this Key bowl yet, though I have told him about it.
I will do.
Every other faceted inside-out I've seen has been in the very experienced mitts of Peter Elliot at The Art Glass Fair in Dulwich, and they get sold almost before the Fair opens.
Should have added, all the faceted ones I've seen do have this deep cobalt blue.
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The Chinese bowls are stunning, a really subtle design - one of my favourites.
I have added a photos of my slightly more 'humdrum' Chinese bowl and another little bullet shaped bowl from Mdina. The walls of this Chinese bowl are a constant thickness, I have seen one on ebay with very square and angular characters and wondered if it dated to after Michael Harris had left Malta.
I realised today what a lucky find the inside out bowl is, on my tour yesterday I had found what appeared to be two nice bits of glass, a small Royal Brierly vase and a Czech optic balls or olives vase, but both had big nasty cracks running through them. I found the inside out vase in the last charity shop I visited and it was the only item I bought after calling at about 20 shops in various towns. I almost did not buy it but luckily my guardian glass angel was on the case. I think I will have to get a donation together for that charity shop!
John.
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:thup:
I really like the Chinese Key bowls too - got 4 altogether - all quite different.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/twokeys2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/threekeys.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/fourkeys.jpg
Have some of the other type too - these really seem to vary in quality, though I do like this design very much. (sorry no pics - not even out of focus!) One of mine is simply head and shoulders above the rest - no confirmed idea why - but I can make a good guess!
Can I assume you are a Mdina collector - and that you do have Mark's book?
There are picture of these (small bowls with the spiral pattern) in a Glass Book written by Ronald Stennet-Willson - at the time (rare book, don't have a copy myself - grrrr)
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Yes Sue, I have the affliction/blessing of collecting mania (and said book), especially the first few years of production at Mdina. I thought I had it bad, but FOUR chinese bowls? :mrgreen: I have only been collecting for two years or so, I found a cut ice fish vase at a boot sale which sort of started me off with a bang. There are some photos of it at the end of this thread (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,25889.0.html) .
John.
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:-[
Got 4 of them too - and a tall slim one - but only one signed.
All 4 of the Chinese bowls are completely different, so are completely justified!
Got the bug in 2000, seemed to be able to spot it, it just spoke to me, so I was able to pick up a fair bit of unusual early stuff before most folk knew what it was. Had to stop buying when my "spending money" ran out, and I can't afford it now anyway.
But there are still a fair few fantastic early pieces out there - it's just a matter of being able to spot them. Folk seem to be obsessed with Fish vases, and Fish vases alone. :spls:
I want Zig-Zag vase. The only one I've seen belongs to Elizabeth Harris - it's the one in the book.
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Helo you two,
Well I think you have it all covered and certainly don't need my input from what you have written.
Sadly I have never owned one of these blue of faceted ones as they don't appear aften - if at all so far from my sources!
You can safely say that they were just in Michaels period though and the obvious clue is the concave ground and polished out pontil scar. This was really only employed from the Italian/Whitefriars influence of the Boffo's. But when Ettore died of lukemia in 1970 and Vincente eventually lost interest they went over to flat polished bases entirely although I cannot say for certain exactly which year. '72/'73 or maybe even a bit later at a guess.
You- Sue- may know better than I as you have your great collection from which to draw clues. Mine only comes from experience of those pieces I have handled plus information gleaned from the horses mouth all those years ago. Memory of the finer points of details like that can fade somewhat after 3 decades or more!
One small point, I am just wondering where this Chinese 'KEY' description came from. They were always known as just Chinese bowls and that is all my archive lists refer to them as. I was never aware of them as anything else but perhaps you know something I don't. I'm intrigued!.
Advise by direct email as I don't have time to log in to the GMB as often as I should so that is the best way to get hold of me.
Anyway great to see all your input. Keep it up.
Very best
Ron
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:spls:
To be perfectly honest, I don't know where there word Key came from Ron!
There's a fair possibility it's just a description my brother and I used to describe the strapped shape on the side of this bowl before we knew what it was called, so that we knew what we were talking about, given we live at different ends of the country and don't see each other very often - just a have weekly blether on the phone.
I'll write to you soon - and try and get a better image of the faceted one for you.
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I am glad that glass speaks to someone else, I don't feel half so crazy now.
I guess that the fish vase has become the most iconic Michael Harris design and also the easiest for people to recognise. They can be quite nice too.
There is so much in Mark Hill's book I would like to get my hands on. Money is definitely an issue but so is opportunity, no doubt more of the former would help with the latter!
Dreaming of limitless shelves........
John.
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You would be very jealous of Sue's collection John - I've seen it. Mine only fills half a small shelf ATM, but I keep wishing I hadn't sold the early side stripe ::)
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I already am Christine, just from the clues.
John.
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>:D
Just to make you green - my favourite, favourite, favourite Fish vase - it's tiny - only 3.25 inches tall.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/preciousbabyfish1.jpg
I was chatting to a stallholder at a fair - my hand went out on it's own and picked this up - I hadn't even noticed I'd noticed it. :spls: I took it to Tim and Elizabeth who were there, to show them - Tim said it was by his Dad, from 1968.
I cuddle it.
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Not a Mdina fan, but THAT IS GLASS (all in this thread)
Sue sort out your photograqphy and I'll sort oot ma spelling. See you in Edinburgh.
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hi there
had to have me 2 pence worth, im an anything Michael Harris fan, and have a small collection of mdina,IOW, kerry glass and Brierley studio. i just have to say to sue that little fish vase is gorgeous and i want it, i want it, i want it!!!!!. Ive had a few of the lolliepop vases and have what i call the mallet fish vase ?? its not in Marks book but is a later one dated 1979 (had to buy it as its the same year i was born). Plus a few other bits which i like. Unfortunitly i too sold pieces that i now wish i'd kept hold of..
I too find glass speaks to me but i would imagine most of us on here also have that problem...the worst thing is i do find myself talking back sometimes..i dont half get some funny looks at the car boots :24:
i desperatly want a crizzle stone but doubt i will pick one up for 50p at a car boot, although i'll never stop trying ;D
all the best
michelle
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Sue your small fish vase is exquisite and then some.
The bargains for us tight wads are still out there, a little 'luck' helps but nothing beats handling as much glass as possible and spending time looking (and talking to glass) ....
A case in point is the inside out vase that started this thread (99p), my Michael Harris signed fish vase was bought at a wet and windy bootsale one October morning - the seller had a sticker on it saying "Medina Italy" (I am almost embarrassed to admit paying only £5 for it).
I guess if you can devote enough time to looking bargains can be found, if you don't have much time you probably need more disposable income!
John.
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My precious baby Fish is NOT for sale.
It's a bit lumpy and bumpy, but you can see how the colours and movement all work together beautifully. At this point in time, Michael Harris had only had a year or so's experience working with hot glass, basically teaching himself from scratch - given that, it's an ambitious and complicated piece, his talent, innovation and enthusiasm just shine through.
Frank, I'm not exactly sure what you're saying. We are talking GLASS, albeit nicely, in a friendly manner.
I will try to get better pics of the other things when I am able - it may well be a good week or so. I only have very limited energy, most of which is used up with just the basics of living.
I thought it best to use what I already have to illustrate, after all, it's links, not taking up server space here, rather than just letting it go.
I did think this facted inside-out should not go uncommented.
It's a scarce and important piece of glass from the early Studio Glass movement.
Thank you to everybody for the nice comments!
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Michelle, is this the design you mean by 'mallet vase'? Four cut facets (difficult to see in this photo), if it is see page 52.
John.
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An unflattened "Ice-cut" style, basically. I really like these too.
One of my "Ice-cuts" isn't actually cut, just flattened.
Sorry I didn't say this before - I can only really cope with one bit of info at a time - I can get a bit disjointed, but normally get there in the end. :thup:
And sincere apologies to you, Frank :-*- I thought you were telling me off for chatting too much in the Glass forum! :-[ I do get the wrong end of the stick sometimes.
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Have done a little digging for decent pics, seeing as this thread seems to be developing.
A couple of early Inside-outs - the blue/green one is marked Mdina, in Michael Harris' handwriting, the "brownish" one is actually amethyst, but takes on a brown hue because of the silver salts in it and the light coming through it. Reflected light leaves it amethyst.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/insideout1.jpg
Small amethyst fish
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/purplefish1.jpg
Small flat bottle - concave polished pontil mark.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/disc1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/disc2.jpg
A rather lovely flagon - I believe it's a Boffo.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/boffojug2.jpg
Another favourite fish vase. Round, browns, with loads of irridesence. I believe round ones were by Michael Harris.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/MHroundfish3.jpg
Another of my very favourite pieces - a 17.5" strapped bottle. Amethyst and blue. There are some shadowy images of this design on the shop shelves, pp 24-5 of Mark's book.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/strappedclub2.jpg
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no jon it looks more like a fish than that, when i get a minute tonight when little un' is in bed i will get it out of the cabinet and take a photo to put on here. I do love that shape too but have never had the good luck to find one as yet. my first lolliepop was just £2 at a car boot which i was pretty chuffed with..
all the best
michelle
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sorry your a john, my jon is a jon..
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I take it you mean one of the vases with Eric Dobson's Tiger pattern on the inside body, and thick blue shoulder casings, with a narrow-ish base, flaring out to a flat top, but the tiger bit giving it a tall neck, about 2.5 inches thick, Michelle?
There's a weird one in this year's Miller's Guide, with two necks, pointing in different diirections. The guide dates it mid-late '70s.
Definitely more "mallet" shaped than these "cube" ones, ;) but I think the name was "invented" to be in line with the wrongly named "axe"
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Thats the one Sue, here is a couple of picture of my one..we bought it at peterborough festival of antiques last year for £40.
michelle
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I do not mind which spelling is used, Jon, john, Jonn, Jahn, Jane, Jonty, well maybe not Jonty (apologies to all Jontys).
What wonderful glass and lovely photos.
I had not realised that the strapped bottles could have such fluid and controlled trails. Many of those old photographs in Mark Hill's book are so tantalizing, enough of an image to make out what is photographed but not enough detail can be seen to satisfy.
I do lust after the glass blocks, has anyone seen the commission that is mentioned, I hope it still exists (photo caption top of page 25).
John but not Jonty.
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John but not jonty.. ive just had a look at the book and i dont think i'd ever even noticed that before they are gorgeous, :o now my jon but also not jonty wont be happy coz i gotta find me one of them...whilst still continuing my ever hopefull search fro a crizzle stone for a fiver on a car boot sale or maybe a tenner at a charity shop.. if ever i strike lucky i will of course wave it under your nose and gloat :24:
michelle
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I'm afraid there are very, very few of these big strapped bottles around. I know of this one, one which was sold at the last Gaydon fair, (Peter Elliot again) and a smaller, but signed one which has "been seen" by another very reputable and knowledgeable dealer/expert.
The strapping bears some small resemblance to the characters on the Chinese bowls, although it doesn't cross over itself - the design is very "psychadelic" - appropriate to the time. (but not multicoloured, obviously)
If I had encountered any more in my collecting life, I would have pounced, because I absolutely adore it - I do try to keep track of things.
Sadly, I didn't meet Mark in time to get pics of pieces from my collection in his book, and living up here in Scotland would have made it difficult too.
I've certainly encountered more Crizzle stones than faceted Inside-outs and strapped bottles - I believe there are 14 known Crizzle stones to date (counting mine :-[)
I do think I might have one piece of the block design - a small amethyst square.
Will get a pic when I get the others sorted out.
These blue cased thick Fish/mallet vases turn up less frequently than the cube ones.
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Got some better pics of my faceted Inside-out.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/eye6.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/eye7.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/eye4.jpg
(that one's with my finger stuck inside it, to show the optical effect it has)
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/eye3.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/eye2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/eye1.jpg
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Fantastic photos Sue, beautiful vase. :mrgreen:
John.
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;)
But mine doesn't have the rounded out polished pontil mark your does - it's just a flat polished base. However, it would be from the same period, given the deep blue colour that these faceted ones all have (as far as I know).
However, much as I think they're very scarce, this is based soley on the number I've seen for sale - same goes for the big strapped bottles.
It should be remembered there may be several sitting on folk's shelves at home, the owners having no intention of ever parting with them.
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I have been berating my parents for not going on holiday to Malta in 1969, incredibly negligent of them under the circumstances..... ;D
John.
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hi,my future father inlaw is from malta and hasn't got 1 piece of glass from thier even my Lee lived thier for 5yrs and hasn't got any you would think they would have,ive told Lee to get his sister who lives thier to trawl the markets for a wedding pressie for us lets see what she comes up with!kaz
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'Found' another one this week....
John
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ohhh you lucky devil >:D John >:D i still havent got one
michelle
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You have to keep your eyes open Michelle :chky:, I saw this one on fleabay (it was mis-described) and it managed to avoid any delays in transit due to the current postal strike. 8)
John
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Keith's query about his (possibly) Mdina hollow weight has been split off, and the topic moved to Glass Paperweights:
http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,29276.0.html
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Hi all,
(been a bit absent recently, just found this thread! )
Ive just found an interesting snippet from Andy McConnells Millers 20th Century glass, that i had
overlooked before, I wonder whether its true??
I quote, hopefullly not getting into copyright worries!,
'The planes on the front section of the cut ice versions were cut and polished by
Gulemeyr, Maltas leading glass merchant as Harris lacked the required facilities. ' page 134 !!
Curious!
Comments welcome !!! ;D
Discuss.........
Andy
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From memory, from Mark's book, I believe there is truth in this.
I can't remember the name of the cutter, but initially, there were no cutting facilities at the studio and pieces had to be taken "into town" to be cut.
This is one reason the finishes on earlier pieces can be very random. Whether they were cut and polished and what degree of finish depended on the pressure of work in the studio to keep up with demand, the staff available to take the stuff into town etc. Even when they got their own cutting facilities, it was still dependant of the availability of staff and their time to do the finishing work.
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Hi Sue,
just found it in Marks book, page 32, Mdina purchased a grinding and polishing machine in late 1969,
before that , the facets were polished by Gullaumier (different spelling to Andys book) a Maltese glazing
and glass company.
Another snippet from Marks book i had missed ::)
Interesting though.
Cheers
Andy :D
(company still going strong, http://www.guillaumier.com/about.htm . Thanks google)
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Both of the facet cut vases I have here appear to have little dull gold coloured specks on the facet faces. They should be visible in the photos. I think they may be the remains of the polishing compound used that has become embedded in the air bubbles at the surface after polishing. The bubbles are all over the vases but only on the facets are there these little 'dots'. Any ideas?
Will try and get a better photo of them in the morning.
John
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Just thought id pop this on , one of my favs, and the label is the same as Johns, (nearly)
I got it a few years ago, from ebay seller in Malta, no mention of Mdina (so got a good deal >:D )
The label reads made in Malta, MU/1, Johns is MF/1 ,
Maybe the model number?? in the very early days??
Cheers
Andy
;D
ps Sue, i love your baby fish vase :o :mrgreen:
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Just thought id pop this on , one of my favs, and the label is the same as Johns, (nearly)
That button top looks very early to me.
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It's very similar to the flatter one I posted earlier on in the thread - and a favourite of mine too.
Small flat bottle - concave polished pontil mark.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/disc1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/disc2.jpg
The round polished pontil mark also signifies that it was made while the Boffos were still working there, on top of the button rim. (see Ron's post). So we are definitely looking at the Harris period for most items here.
(I seem to have an awful lot of favourite pieces. I did once try to work out what I would rescue in a house fire (after Michael and the cats) and managed then to get it down to about 18-20 bits - but I think that might have increased now...... :-[
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That's a shape I don't have in my hoard, anyone out there want to swap one for a faceted inside out vase? :chky:
Managed to snap a piccy this morning, the spots seem to have a pale reddy brown kinda colour in close up.
I also have another of these Made in Malta labels on a small globe vase (blue/green with bubbles), I think the code on this one is M613 but it is a bit worn. I vaguely remember reading about these codes in Mark Hill's book and after having another look it appears they were shape numbers but the code would be different for different suppliers and/or countries. :spls:
Sue, you could always install a sprinkler system to protect your glass, I mean your house and loved ones. ;D
John
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Tracks down my close-up glasses and magnifying glass...... there is one of these copper coloured bubble/indents on a facet of mine.
Sorry, not swapping, 'cos I've got a faceted inside out! I have seen these flat bottles turn up on ebay occasionally, I don't think they're terribly rare.
Hmmm, sprinkler system... and who would pay for it?
Also in a fire, you're talking hot, then adding cold water, I think there might be explosions!
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Some photos of the globe vase and label.
I think the point of sprinklers is they catch a fire very early, the fire does not have as much chance to spread and temperatures remain low. At risk of sounding like a sprinkler salesman, water damage is also reduced as you don't have the fire service emptying half a lake through your missing roof/windows. I guess sprinklers are not common in household settings though, must be a pain to paint your ceilings with sprinkler heads all over them. ;D
I could not resist a photo of a couple of sprinkler heads I bought at a bootsale years ago, had to laugh when I remembered they have glass bits too, vials (right word?) which burst at 68 degrees centigrade opening a valve to spray water off the copper bits below.
John
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I have been trying to get some decent photos of the internal colouration of these facet cut inside out vases for a while. Last night I got all 'Heath Robinson' and with the aid of an LED strip managed to get some better photos.
I have to add that the darker vase (and first one that I bought) has so much 'mystery' about it.....
John
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That's a very valiant effort, and it helps me, because I know what it is you're showing, but the bottom line is you really need to have it in your own sticky little mitts, don't you?
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Without a doubt Sue, being able to pick a piece of glass up and handle it is the best way to 'get to know' it and also to begin learning to recognise it's siblings.
I had little idea of the pattern in the darker vase until I stuck a bright light inside it and then there it was. 8)
John
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;)
And I had no idea about the strange optical effects of mine until I stuck my thumb in it!
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;D
The photo is with my finger in it, not my thumb, but you can make out how it appears to shrink.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/eye4.jpg
Here's something to really make you green - one of my very, very best pieces of Mdina. It's a tricorn charger in cobalt blue.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/Cobalt1.jpg
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Wow, I nearly fell of my chair. What a wonderful charger, Mr Harris knew a thing or two about design and glass. :hiclp:
How many more stunning Mdina gems do you have 'hidden away' Sue? 8)
John
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;D
I think that's about it, mostly. There's a signed "Rosenthal" design charger, and a couple of enormous (17") stoppered bottles, also in the Rosenthal design. I think I've got a few (very) odd bits that didn't work quite so well!
Speaking to Adam A. at the National, he was telling me how a fabby big flatish bowl he had had had ( :spls: ) to be made as an "inside-out" beast, because the decoration was put on the outside, and to get it to appear on the inside, the whole thing had to be turned inside-out. That's the only way I can assume this charger was made, so, thanks Adam! :kissy:
This charger is about 10.25" in diameter, and is slightly triangular. I've never seen or heard of another one like it. It is absolutely gorgeous. 8)
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Have I shown this piece before? - I can't remember. Again, a very unusual beast. Peter Elliot sold one last year, and I believe there is yet another one apart from mine, so three known. There are some shadowy images in the photographs of the shop shelves at the beginning of the book. It's big, nearly 17". Amethyst, with blue (not cobalt) "strapping".
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/strappedclub2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/Strappedclub1.jpg
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Wow :o :o :o
Amazing pieces!
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
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Some more bits, with the same sort of "seaweed" design on as the charger, so I thought this would be the appropriate thread to put them.
A "clear" big bowl:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/seaweedbowl1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/seaweedbowl3.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/seaweedbowl2.jpg
whoops - it looks as if there's a blackish streak at the back - it's actually the gap in the bits of white paper I used as the background.
Of interest here is the fact that the pattern is on the out/underside of the piece. It has not been turned "inside out".
(I display it upside-down as that's the nicest view. I have no qualms about putting bits of glass upside down, or even, once they are upside-down, using them as a "stand", putting something else on top.)
And a couple of fat cylinder vases:-
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/2seaweed.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/Amethystseaweed1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/amthystseaweed2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/clearseaweed1.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/chopin-liszt/more%20glass/clearseaweed2.jpg
I love this design, I haven't seen too much of it around, though.
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Yummy glass Sue. Is the bowl the Verdala shape?
Only seen one of those 'seaweeds' before, a clear cylinder vase like yours some months ago on ebay. Your amethyst version looks really good.
John
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I don't actually know John - I've asked Ron about which bowls are Verdala ones - the chargers with the shallow bowls or the ones with the upright rims, or both. He's been very busy, so I haven't heard yet.
I would think this is the fat cylinder you saw a few months ago, I bought it only recently. ;)
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I may be able to answer my own question. ::) It looks to me like a Verdala ashtray, I remembered that I have one hidden away :-[, bought from Ron a year or two ago (I think he had had it for a while). Here are a few photos, 19cm diameter, 7cm high. This colour is not as appealing to my eye as yours Sue.
John
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I've got a couple in this style, they do come in different colourways, including the post-Harris red with blue strapping (some folk describe it as orange and green - can't see it myself!) and I've got one in Ming. I've not seen one like yours - very reminiscent of IoWSG Tortioseshell!
Pretty massive for an ashtray - perhaps for Cuban cigars!
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Just thought id mention one of my favourite and useful photos of Mdina ,Im not sure its a very common book,
but im always checking it out. Its in Leslie Pinas, circa 1950s glass , ISBN- 0-7643-0229-9 pub.1997
Its a picture of
'The Mdina Glass Collection for 1972 .This handmade glass was imported from Malta and distributed in
the US by Georges Briard Inc.. etc
There are 38 pieces in the photo, with the names for them all, including 'Verdala' Bowl, Ming vase,
Fish vase, faceted vase, Tri-Corn, , there are goblets, chalices, a Cache Pot (which is better known as a Chinese Bowl) Bottles , etruscan/classic/squat vases paperweights and a few more.
Shame about copyright rules :'( , but may be worth looking for , if you havent got it already,
its good for Murano, Blenko, and lots of other stuff, and ,no, im not on commission!
Andy
ps also has original $ price for each. there is not an inside out vase or similar in another name!
Large fish $65 Tri-Corn $40 chalice $65 down to paperweight $12.50
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:thup:
Thanks, Andy! I've certainly heard of it. Another early book with great images of Michael Harris' work is the one by Stennet-Willson. I'm desperate to get my mitts on a copy.
Inside-out vases are definitely MH's design, even if it isn't illustrated in Pina. I have a small clear blue one, without the Maltese cross prunt, heavily irridised, with Mdina, in his handwriting, on the base.
And suzygpr has a "nearly" insideout vase, with the cobalt blue in it. :mrgreen:
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Sue,
Ive got Stennett Willsons, modern Glass, 1975, my Dad found it in a charity shop! Just 2 pics of
IOW glass, a group of 8 tall bottles, and the other , a vase, bowl and 2 PWs ! Others include
Jane Gilchrist, Whitefriars and many more, most photos in B+W, IOW are in colour, (No Mdina)
Andy
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What about the small, slightly triangular-shaped flared bowls - I think they have a spiral shaped design on them?
(will get a pic of mine shortly. The light is lousy today, not enough coming in the windows to see!)
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Sue,
Ive got Stennett Willsons, modern Glass, 1975, my Dad found it in a charity shop! Just 2 pics of
IOW glass, a group of 8 tall bottles, ...........Andy
The group of 8 bottles are all like this one, (different heights)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Michael-Harris-Isle-of-Wight-Glass-Bottle-Vase-Signed_W0QQitemZ280433300412QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Art_Glass?hash=item414b2093bc
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I know - my brother's partner has the book, I sneaked a peek at it when he wasn't looking.
(nobody's allowed to touch it, far less actually read it!).
I do have one of these lovely attenuated Tortioseshell bottles - in the rarer ~ 15" height.
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Relative sizes:
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:hiclp: :chky: :hiclp:
I've had a reply from Ron regarding Verdala bowls.
Verdala bowls are only the ones with the 90 degree upturned rims, like yours, John.
I've got another one in the yellow splodgy, with orange splodged trails colourway.
This design must have continued production after Michael Harris left.
All other bowls and chargers are bowls and chargers, though some of these may have ended up in the Verdala hotel, only the upturned rim ones are Verdala bowls.
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Cheers Sue, thanks for posting the Verdala info. I am fairly sure I have seen the Verdala shape in the blue/green with orange/red strapping colourway (depending on your colour perception ;D) so would agree the shape was still being made after Mr H left Malta. Mine may also be one of the later ones - a guesstimate based on colour.
John
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I don't know, it's maybe not that late, John. It's very like IoWSG's Tortoiseshell - I have a straight-sided bowl which is very similar to yours and to Tortoisehell, very-well executed. And Tortoiseshell was one of the designs which developed from the work that had been done at Mdina..... I wouldn't dismiss it that quickly as being late. Grrr! Photos! It looks brown in two images, but a bit red in the other....
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Snapped this photo last night but the colours are not 100% 'true'.
The blue grey colour is a shadow cast by the foot and only appears this colour on camera.
Left home before dawn this morning and arrived back in time for the sunset so I will take another photo in daylight tomorrow morning. Bought two very nice bits today which I will show off tomorrow. ;D
John
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These photos in daylight.
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I bought two gems yesterday. The first an inside out vase in purple with iridescent swirls, the second a purple fish vase.
Couldn't resist the last photo. ;D
John
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Nice!
Ive got a pair of identical inside outs, but i never see such unusual fishes !
(well, not in my price range :'( )
Andy
:thup:
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Right that's it John - when I come to see you after Xmas you are taking me glass shopping!!! Absolutely green over your new inside out and that fish :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Well done! Suzy x
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:P
Is the one in the middle at the back not a cut-ice, rather then a Fish? I've got a tall sort of wee one....
Nice inside out, but oh dear, those amethyst Fish are getting just so-ooo common, aren't they!!!!!! :thup:
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To tell the truth Andy, the purple fish vase was very pricey but how often will that opportunity arise? Just about payed off my overdraft as well.....
Suzy, the more time you can spend looking the better and secondly, take time to talk to people, make connections and down the line nice bits of glass sometimes pop up.
I have always called it a cut ice fish vase Sue, it's a fish vase with two facets cut on the front.... There is a similar one (not as 'nice' as mine ;D) on page 33 of Mark Hill's Mdina book. This one is signed too, http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-11789
I had not seen any of the early purple Mdina pieces in the flesh (should that be 'metal'?) before, maybe they are shiny and new to me but they sure look superb on display. :)
John
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>:D
Wearing my pedant's hat here, it's a Lollipop with facets cut into it - though they're not always cut - sometimes they're just flattened on the marver.
Fish vases are the ones with the extra "shoulders" on, only.
And as for seeing glass in reality, I refer to it being "in vitro", 'cos in research labs where I used to work, an experiment was referred to as "in vivo" (in life) or as "in vitro" literally, in glass. (test tube).
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Sorry Sue, not sure what you mean about extra shoulders in relation to the two shapes.
John
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The big "wing-like" casings on either side of it, mostly with a cross-over strap - are essential for it to be a Fish vase. It's a feature which came about when the glass centre part was dipped, then turned to catch the resulting trail - your button rimmed Fish is unusual in not having this cross-over strap bit.
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Hi Sue, still don't know why you would call that centre vase a lollipop and not a fish vase. It is larger than the lollipops I have seen and much thinner too (8½ x 7½ x 1½, H/W/D), made in the fashion of the fish vases with a flattened disc like centre and substantial 'glass wings'. In Mark Hill's Mdina book, page 33 bottom right and on page 27 top you can see similar vases described as fish vases.
Can't say that I mind what it is called but it is important to know what other people mean and also to be understood when using terminology. ;D
John
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Sorry, dimensions stated above are in inches.
John
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On p, 27, the amethyst vase is a Fish, the other is a Lollipop - describing the other on p. 33 as a cut-ice "Fish" is a mistake. Lollipops have a single thick casing, all over, Fish have the casing in two parts.
Lollipops come in all sizes - I've got one, believed to be by Olivia Said, it's 14.25 inches tall. Not a Michael Harris design in it, though the clear part is crizzled.
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Interesting, cheers Sue. The fish/lollipop ;D vase has a pattern of concentric circles on the back like other lollipops I have seen, I think they form as the hot glass cools (thermal shock?). So not all lollipops have an hour glass (or figure of eight) shaped central cavity.
Have you given Mark Hill any 'stick' for perpetuating the fish/lollipop mistake in print? ;D
John
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:spls:
There's every possibility! Typos happen.
And absolutely, the figure of 8/hourglass centre design is not the only Lollipop. See later on in the book how many different designs are used in the IoWSG Lollipop shape!
The concentric circles happen not so much in cooling, but as the round shape alters when it is flattened on the marver.
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I was about to post this on a separate thread after MUCH searching and thought just one last check...so here is my verdala bowl in 'orange and blue'! or red and blue depending on how you see the colour :-\ but it's definitely not orange and green ;D
In Charles Hajdamach 20th century British Glass there is a picture of a tall bottle in the same decor and it states 'probably early 70's'. I've also been through Mark Hill's book and on page 53 he says 'All pieces with orange bodies date from the late 70's onwards, but these were most popular during the 1980's'.
My bowl is 8 inches wide (20cm) by 2.5 inches high (6.5cm), and I wondered whether this was an earlier piece i.e. 70's given it's shape? It is smaller than the Verdala ashtray/bowl as in Mark's book it says this was 9.75 inches. He says this shape (and I have read it that they were in the decor he refers to as the green and sandy ochre with internal bubbles) was added to the catalogues and appeared from the mid 1970's. I just wondered if this bowl would date from as early as the late 70's perhaps then?
Many thanks for any opinions :)
m
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It's definitely a Verdala bowl. :thup:
They come in different sizes - I've got Ming one@ 8.25" diameter, a red and blue strapped one @ 7.75" and a "seaweedy" one @ 10".
Ming and the red and blue strapping are post-Harris - you really have to go by the colours and patterns - this (to my eyes) red and blue is what Mark refers to as orange with applied green/blue, and, as he says in his book; "Michael Harris: Mdina Glass & Isle of Wight Studio Glass", p.53, "All pieces with orange bodies date from the late '70s on...". I would think that there is a possibility that a Verdala bowl may be late '70s rather than well into the '80s.
However, I don't think they're that scarce.
(heehee, but I think my seaweedy one is!)
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Thanks Sue, I love this bowl a LOT. But from your comments I still don't yet have a 'collection' of rare then :'(
Onwards and upwards as they say, so that's rare and NSC I'm now looking for ;D
m
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It has to be said, I rarely use the "R" word..... I think it's a bit dodgy. :wsh:
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Picked up another facet cut inside out vase last weekend, a tad more colourful than the one which started this thread (flat polished base on the new one). I am very pleased with it. ;D
John
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Totally appropriate, given we're gettting a new Dr. Who and it's all over the media - these belong right in that fantasy world - this new one of yours particularly - what a gorgeous effect you get where the cutting shows the all the insidey layers.
(not to mention, congrats on your sleuthing finding this thread!)
Lovely. Just perfectly lovely. ;D
(ps, I wonder if we're finally getting to the bottom of that one pot of cobalt glass that was melted at Mdina.... ? ;) )
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that's lovely John :)
'(ps, I wonder if we're finally getting to the bottom of that one pot of cobalt glass that was melted at Mdina.... ? ;) )'
is John's latest find cobalt ? or am I misunderstanding.
I have a cobalt blue sidestripe I've not yet shown. Mainly because I've become confused about a comment on here on another thread - where John says that it was only used in it's unmodified form as a final colour for a short period of production in the first year, and that in it's unmodified form means with no chlorides etc added. Mine is cobalt blue without a shadow of a doubt but has chlorides in it internally. So was it a cobalt blue pot that was used in another period of time? or is it from the one pot of cobalt blue used in the first year ??? Happy to post it on another thread but have been silently wondering in my few glassy moments available at the mo :)
m
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We hadn't seen any with silver chloride in the actual cobalt blue bit - but my "Precious Baby Fish" has streaks of cobalt, as well as the ambers and turquoisey blue and clear.
The peculiar small, (damaged) strapped bottle I acquired recently is Cobalt, but only in the final, partial casing.
(I haven't posted any images of that yet.)
I think the simple answer is that we really don't know, M.
What we can speculate depends on what comes out of the woodwork!
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ok, I'll post a new thread - I don't think mine has chloride in the cobalt blue casing - it's like an almost inside out that someone posted (I need to find the thread) - I think the chlorides are all internal.
I've not double checked the pics of it or brought it down from upstairs yet. I'll go and get it and post :)
m