Glass Message Board
Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. => Malta Glass => Topic started by: mhgcgolfclub on November 01, 2016, 08:23:48 PM
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For show an early Mdina glass vase.
Is it a strapped fish vase.
Sold as a Fish Head vase heavily applied with glass trails. Having a look around I could not find another similar vase.
Signed on the base Michael Harris Mdina Glass Malta although I am not 100% sure if correct as I know there are lots of fake signatures.
Height 9.5"
Width 9.5"
Weight 2kg
Thanks for any help.
Roy
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A couple more pics of sig.
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I would describe it as being a (heavily) strapped Lollipop, it does look like an unusual early experimental thing, but I'm really not at all convinced by the signature either.
It's all higgledepiggelty, there is no reason for it to be - it's on a flat polished surface.
Michael Harris' signature is normally very, very neat, even when on curved, awkward surfaces.
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Definitely not a fish vase and that signature is a poor fake.
as I know there are lots of fake signatures.
I disagree, I have seen the occasional faked signature over the years but I have seen far more genuine examples...
A lot of the heavily trailed stuff seems to date from the years after Harris left such as the crizzled bowls with heavy wave like trails.
John
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:)
Yes, the heavy trails were likely developed from the knopped stems on chalices, they ended up on some lovely great big ashtrays and small round PBs, (often a bit unstable).
So when I said early, I was not referring to Harris-period early, but mid-70s early and experimental.
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Nothing to add here :) i tend to agree with all of the above!
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Thank you very much for your replies . Its been very helpful.
Roy
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I find the mid-70s experimental and top end stuff from the expert makers there to be very interesting indeed. :)
I have a one-off Tim Harris Ballon lollipop from IoWSG with lots of heavy strapping around it, not too unlike this in general principle, but a lot later, (2006).
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Thank you Sue for showing that nice vase.
Do you think there is any chance on finding out who made my vase ?
Thanks Roy
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Wolfie, are you at all able to help with that? ;)
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Hi,
I have seen and handled this vase before and the signature is not right. Thought it to be a post Harris example.
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I would just like to update this post. I have recently had contact with IOG and Ron Wheeler. Ron Wheeler had seen the vase in person last September and confirmed with Timothy Harris that the vase was post Harris.
Ron Wheeler thought that Joseph Said probably made the vase but no certainty.
I have told them that should I ever decide to sell the vase I would have the base polished before selling so that it then exists as an interesting genuine piece of Mdina with no inference that it is by Michael Harris.
Roy
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:) It is, efffectively, damage, so I think that is the best thing to do, although some folk might disagree and would call it restored or repaired and want a discount for that.
It's a difficult decision, but having it photographed and illustrated here along with that information does help to keep everything above board. :)
I've been in a similar position, with a Lollipop which had a manufacturing flaw removed (a great gob of glass had landed on the finished item accidentally and spoiled it).
I thought I wouldn't be selling it, so it wouldn't matter, but somebody persuaded me to part with it, so the whole story had to come out.
Fortunately, there were records here to confirm what had gone on and the buyer was happy with my actions.
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Looking back at the listing, totally agree that the sig is fake. This has been made with good deal skill and considering the colours it would have to be made by Vicente Boffo or Joseph Said. I think it is more likely to be JS as, he made fish type vases and VB didnt, JS liked doing all the good stuff at this stage so again I think JS also VB top tended to be more straight tops and this is very sloping. Got to be JS, although Boffo liked to do the trailed stuff :)
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I agree as above most poss made by JS but as to the sig it is defo a fake I have seen many fakes over the years and have at time bought them to destroy them to stop them getting into the open market to deceive other,s.
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That's a bit drastic and destroys a possibly decent bit of glass made by somebody else.
I agree, it's difficult.
But I just see some scratches on the bottom that are deliberate damage, but not in any important place.