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Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: Ben.unwin on February 07, 2016, 01:57:50 PM

Title: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: Ben.unwin on February 07, 2016, 01:57:50 PM
I have this plate/charger, it has similar colours to mdina but I can't find a signature which is unusual as the base is quite large. I also can't find any similar in shape!
Any help would be ideal :)
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate?
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 07, 2016, 02:36:30 PM
It's a Mdina charger in Ming, from around the early-mid '70s.
Early pieces are very often not marked, and chargers are quite scarce.
Very nice find! :)
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate?
Post by: Ben.unwin on February 07, 2016, 03:43:40 PM
Thanks chopin, the colours are the same so figured as much but have never seen a charger in any colour by Mdina. Any ideas on a rarity out of ten?
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate?
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 07, 2016, 04:46:38 PM
There are definitely several more than 10. :)
But I don't think they make any multiple of 100s.
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate?
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 08, 2016, 01:30:41 PM
Thank-you for your private message.
I would think it's something that should be able to make its own price on that well-known auction site.

I am not a valuer, sorry.  :)
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: glassobsessed on February 08, 2016, 05:59:30 PM
Can we see photos of the base and also from low enough to see the profile clearly?

The diameter would be useful too, it all helps to provide a useful record for reference. Thanks.

John
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 08, 2016, 06:36:40 PM
It looks to me, from the pics, as if it is the right shape for an early one.
Sort of a cardinal's hat shape, small central bowl with a large flat wide rim.

Later fruit bowls were just an ordinary curved shape and smaller.
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: glassobsessed on February 08, 2016, 06:46:44 PM
Yes but would be useful to have it documented here for anyone to reference in future.
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 08, 2016, 06:53:20 PM
Absolutely.
It was only because I knew what I should looking for, that I could tell what it was. :)
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: Ben.unwin on February 09, 2016, 04:41:21 PM
Its around 10" in diameter and stands 2" tall. There are some additional images that may help for future reference!
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 09, 2016, 04:49:17 PM
 :o
Now that IS an unusual shape - it has a stepped sort of bottom part, not just the one bowl in the middle.
I've not seen one like this before, but it would be consistent with being properly early and of a sort of experimental, one-off artist piece, much more than standard production.

It is still completely consistent with being unmarked and unsigned.

Thank-you for the extra pics - they have been very informative, and I hope it helps you a bit more too.
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: Ben.unwin on February 09, 2016, 05:00:08 PM
I know, a very unusual shape in comparison to others!
May have been an early experimental piece..
I'm not sure I'll be keeping it, as pretty as it is :'(
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 09, 2016, 05:58:20 PM
 8)
I am positive it is an early "experimental" or simply a one-off artist piece. It's big, so would have had to have been made by one of the top folk there at that early time.  :)
Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: glassobsessed on February 09, 2016, 07:46:54 PM
Looking again at the chargers I have here has been interesting, always something new to notice or learn...

All three have much bigger flat polished areas on the base as though any 'extra step' was ground away before polishing. The blue charger in the photo has the remains of that extra step on one side of the base where it was not all ground away. I suspect that they were all made like the charger in question, perhaps there was an impatient customer who did not want to wait for it to be finished.

Title: Re: Possible Mdina plate? ID = Confirmed Mdina
Post by: chopin-liszt on February 09, 2016, 08:09:26 PM
As you're probably aware, I have a similar charger to yours "in reverse", John, my Rosenthal one, signed by Michael Harris.
Now I'm going to have to get ladders out and get it down to inspect its bottom.  8)