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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: chriscooper on May 13, 2013, 12:06:26 PM

Title: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chriscooper on May 13, 2013, 12:06:26 PM
Not a pattern I have seen before? thought maybe modern but does have the 'earlier' paper label so not sure.
Suggestions it maybe Phoenician thought the label does look like it's always been there?
Here is the album link while I figure out why the pictures won't post.

https://picasaweb.google.com/107067405711297858658/MdinaIridescentPerfumeBottle?authkey=Gv1sRgCOOektWWnc-7Jw
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: Greg. on May 13, 2013, 12:19:57 PM
Hi Chris,
Seen a handful of pieces in this design previously, I'm fairly sure its Mdina and would date to sometime around the 1980s, perhaps slightly later, its certainly later than earlier in date, although before the plastic labels were introduced. Its quite an attractive design. Interested to see where others place this design in terms of date....

Here's another example of this design in a different shape:
http://www.legacyantiques.co.uk/index.php/glass/european-and-scandinavian-glass/mdina-glass/mdina-miniature-iridescent-posy-vase-with-original-sticker.html


 :)
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chriscooper on May 13, 2013, 12:27:55 PM
Think so too, wish I could capture the colours better lovely greens, blues and purple iridescence going off.

Thanks Greg.

Chris
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 13, 2013, 01:24:01 PM
I haven't seen too much of this design around.
I have two bits which might fit into being part of this design range - but to be honest, I don't know if my two bits are from the same range as each other, and they don't match this bit either.
I would tentatively suggest my bits might be experimental... leading up to the rather lovely beast posted here.
My bits are a bit peculiar. Both have the mark on the base that reads "Molina".

As to date, I'm unsure (although definitely post-Harris!). They're a bit more "adventurous" than the splodgy stuff.
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: rosieposie on May 13, 2013, 06:09:37 PM
Hi Chris,  it looks as though Greg has really nailed this one for you.  I would certainly go with it. The glass pattern and label are a dead match.

Sue, I often see the word Mdina written as appearing to be 'Molina', as do many people listing on eBay,  but it does read Mdina,  the 'ol' being the 'd'.  Here is a typical example where a seller reads the signature as Molina:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-vintage-SIGNED-vaseline-uranium-glass-CANDLE-HOLDER-VASE-over-3-pounds-/290890711837
But I really can't see you making this error with a distinctly Mdina piece, so I wondered, there is a glass company called Molina but they make Hash 'Bongs' in borosilicate glass, some of them being extremely attractive pieces of glass I might add. You mention that your two pieces look peculiar... could they possibly be parts for a Molina Bong rather than a Mdina piece?
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chriscooper on May 13, 2013, 06:31:20 PM
Cannot believe even Bonhams and Christies get it wrong.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19902/lot/60/

http://www.christies.com/lotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=1292875

Can we have a picture of your 'similar' Sue ?

Chris
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 13, 2013, 06:37:04 PM
Absolutely not, rosieposie.  :)
One is a disc shaped vase with a flanged rim, the other is a small, straight sided bowl on a narrower foot,and they are definitely Mdina.
Both are shapes I tend to associate with being more '70s than '80s, but with experimental stuff, who knows what was happening when? ???
The Mdina mark on the base went through a period where the person making the marks simply had writing that made it look like Molina. Their "d" got stretched out a bit, that's all. This could be somthing which might help pin down a time period.
I can try to photograph my bits, but they're a nightmare to capture - and not nearly as sophisticated as chriscoooper's piece.
(posting at the same time)

Interesting that in Bonham's auction, the piece is a nice bit of "Tiger" - not "Marble", so it's tending to the '70s rather than the '80s.
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 13, 2013, 07:43:48 PM
The link provided by rosieposie does lead to a piece wrongly described as being Molina - when it's not even one of the "Molina"-style marks!

I suspect some folk just don't like the lack of a vowel between an m and a d....

 ;D It's also not a candleholder, and it's not uranium or vaseline...
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: Nemmie on May 13, 2013, 07:47:04 PM
A lot of Mdina is not very functional. It's art.

I don't think those work well as anything.
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 13, 2013, 08:08:30 PM
I stand my vapouriser in one of mine. It's absolutely perfect for that. ;D
(Or rather, I did stand my vapouriser in it,  until I realised it was one marked by Dobson.)
They're too big for normal ashtrays, now I've upgraded from look-alike e-fags.
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: rosieposie on May 13, 2013, 08:20:31 PM
I felt it was a good illustration of a name that we all know as Mdina but is very often, misread as Molina as in these other examples:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Molina+glass&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.46340616,d.d2k&biw=1008&bih=476&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=kUeRUf22FcG9Oa3LgGg#imgrc=_

and is certainly the one I help identify correctly most often. There are some that have a distinct gap between the curve and the straight of the d where few people will believe the true provenance.

I do agree with you Nemmie, but Chris, I like your vase,  it does have class and I believe you when you say the colours are lovely.   It would be lovely to see yours chopin-liszt to see how well they may match up.
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: Anik R on May 14, 2013, 05:22:12 AM
For reference, there have been several discussions on the board about the writing style of the word "Mdina" and general time frames, including  this one (http://www.glassmessages.com/index.php/topic,49763.msg281397.html#msg281397).

Chris, I like your piece. Out of curiosity, how big or small is it?

Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: glassobsessed on May 14, 2013, 09:08:48 AM
Interesting that both examples of the decor in this thread have paper labels, so date is likely to be 80s or before it seems. We don't see many examples so perhaps it turned out to be too expensive a process, iridescent finishes are usually popular so I imagine it was not due to a lack of sales.

Chris's piece looks like a perfume bottle sans stopper.

John
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chriscooper on May 14, 2013, 09:39:08 AM
Actually bought it last Summer John as a perfume (see album title) been looking without success for another regarding style of stopper.
Its just 3.5" high.                                                                                           

Similar? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Small-Iridescent-Purple-signed-Mdina-Medina-Art-Glass-cube-bottle-Vintage-Retro-/380635885595?nma=true&si=P%252BUT6p0%252FyJxGPGsjcVXxLF7Yguc%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Chris
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: glassobsessed on May 14, 2013, 10:06:42 AM
Most Mdina perfume stoppers are elongated drop shapes (but bound to be exceptions), like this more modern example: http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/m7-LKKMchrxbL-2LYZc97vg.jpg

John

The piece in your link Chris looks like 'one of those exceptions', a similar finish looks to have been used but on a more 'basic' shape. The construction does not look as complex as yours - fewer added spots and trails.

Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: rosieposie on May 14, 2013, 10:36:33 AM
I hadn't realised there were other people putting the writing on the bases,  I assumed the maker / artist did that. :(
Title: Re: Mystery Mdina iridescent vase
Post by: chopin-liszt on May 14, 2013, 11:12:20 AM
It's well-documented that, particularly in the Harris days, but also in the few years following, that all finishing off, putting marks on, etc, was dependant on there being staff time and equipment available to do so, everybody mucked in.
This why there are bits with Dobson's and MH's writing of the mark as well as just about anybody else who was around and could do it.
It's also why some cut-ice lollipops are not cut and why so many bits are not marked at all.
Mdina written on the base is merely the Mdina factory mark, no indication of maker.

I've stated several times here, but it bears repeating  :)  that I did once try to identify all the different "hands" I could find in earlyish Mdina marks... but that I gave up when I got to around 25.
It really didn't help that they had been trying to make them look similar.  ::)

I do associate this triangular shape of perfume bottle with being quite late - and beyond the time-line of my interest.