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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => British & Irish Glass => Topic started by: lyndhurst44 on January 26, 2011, 07:42:34 PM

Title: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark. ID = Midsummer Glass
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 26, 2011, 07:42:34 PM: Hi,
I purchased this vase from a Charity shop last week. The vase really appealed to me but I was also intrigued by it's unusual pontil seal which is shaped like a bird possibly a Phoenix. I have asked around and one suggestion was Phoenician glass from Malta. I wrote to Phoenician on the weekend enclosing photo's of both vase and pontil but have yet to receive a reply. Has anyone seen this shaped pontil before? The seal is quite difficult to determine so I have added a little flour to bring out the pattern.
Thanks,
Bryn
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: glassobsessed on January 26, 2011, 09:09:41 PM: Can't remember seeing any Phoenician like that and I have a vague memory that they use an urn shape on their labels rather than a bird. Happy to be wrong though...

How big is the vase Bryn?

John
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 26, 2011, 11:17:30 PM: Hi John,
It's 6" tall and 6.5" across the top.
Bryn
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: rosieposie on January 26, 2011, 11:40:25 PM: That is a really beautiful vase Bryn, and a very striking pontil mark.....I'm on the search...... :wsh:
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 27, 2011, 09:31:34 AM: Thankyou rosieposie :hiclp:
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: rosieposie on January 30, 2011, 11:52:37 AM: Just so you don't feel forgotten Bryn, I am still looking!!

Saw this today,
http://retroartglass.com/store/item/prp5/View_All_Art_Glass_and_Glassware/Italian_glass_Mid-century_modern_full_size_pitcher_or_vase.html
but although I got excited, I don't think it is the right one.....Onwards, ever onwards!!! :wsh:
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 30, 2011, 06:50:57 PM: Many thanks again for looking Rosieposie and thanks too for the bump :thup:. I'ts such a nice item there must be more out there. I had a vase a few years ago that was made by a Company with whom Ron Wheeler was involved and that had a similar pattern in pink but I can't remember if it had a pontil.
Bryn
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 30, 2011, 06:52:14 PM: I think the company name was Midsummer or similar.
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: Lustrousstone on January 30, 2011, 07:16:45 PM: You're right. It's not a bird; it's a sun and it's Midsummer Glass
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 30, 2011, 09:11:54 PM: Hi,
Thanks Christine, I think we are on the right track but I just had an idea that I might have listed the pink glass vase on this board some years back. I have just checked and indeed I had and it does make very interesting reading especially the post I had from member AA ie http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,4180.msg33438.html#msg33438
The Pheonix assumption may still be alive and kicking. Please check it out.

Thanks,
Bryn
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: Lustrousstone on January 31, 2011, 07:15:33 AM: Email her, see here (http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/craft-directory/makers/view/?guid=e4e90105-7d64-47&maker_ref=9345&page=122&from_page=/craft-directory/makers/list/&sortby=name&sortdir=desc)
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 31, 2011, 11:23:29 AM: Many thanks Christine, I shall attend to that right now.
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: rosieposie on January 31, 2011, 11:38:25 AM: Wow! So it isn't a bird!! That just shows you the POWER of suggestion. Having said it was a bird in the title, all I coud see was a bird with the sun behind it!!

So glad you have got something to go on now Bryn....keep us informed......in the meantime I will start looking for something else! :usd:
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on January 31, 2011, 12:10:25 PM: Hi Sue,
Still could be a bird, I noticed in on an old 2006 old GMS topic of mine that one of the Midsummer glass blowers had moved on to open her own Art Glass company and named it Phoenix Glass. There could well be a link there. Anyway, I have sent her an email with photo's and hopefully they may provide an answer to my original question.
Cheers,
Bryn
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: glassobsessed on March 01, 2011, 01:53:55 PM: Confirmed by Ron Wheeler (Artius Glass) as being made by Midsummer Glass, probably in the mid to late 1980s. Dillon Clarke ran the studio (she was a student of the London Glass Blowing Workshop), Ron was her agent for several years.

Thank you Ron. :hiclp:

I will add the photo of the pontil mark to Glass Gallery, labels, marks and signatures: http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/index.php?cat=6&page=1

John
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: rosieposie on March 01, 2011, 02:14:59 PM: Well, you have been busy John....I met Ron and his wife at the Fair and what a mine of information they have between them......lovely people.

So is it a bird in a sun, or just a sun??? Do we know that yet?

Whatever the outcome, bird or not, you have a lovely piece of glass there Bryn.
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: glassobsessed on March 01, 2011, 02:18:03 PM: I don't know, I didn't think to ask. :-[

John
Title: Re: Unusual bird shaped Pontil mark.
Post by: lyndhurst44 on March 01, 2011, 02:26:28 PM: That's great news John, many thanks, I knew you would come up trumps.
The jury's still out on Phoenix Rosieposie, Dillon Clarke did do to Phoenix Glass but I am now very happy with Ron's info so we'll stay with Midsummer. Now what am I going to do with it.

Bryn