{"product_id":"1970s-mdina-glass-vase-ming-pattern-colours-ming-trumpet-neck-signed","title":"1970s Mdina Glass Vase (Ming Pattern). Unusual colours \u0026 nice squat shape with flared trumpet neck. Signed","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis a very attractive Mdina glass vase with a fine flared trumpet-shaped neck. It has an engraved signature to the base: Mdina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is an early piece with a very dark blue glass - with slightly lighter blue-green stripes to the main part of the body. The blue is so dark you have to look at it closely to see the stripes. This striped pattern is called Ming and dates to the mid 1970s.  You can see the striped pattern much clearer and it looks much lighter in the neck section, when seen from above, as photographed. These are harder pieces of Mdina to find and this one was possibly made by Eric Dobson - it came to me with my other signed piece by him. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a lovely classical shape - measuring 5 1\/2 inches in height - and the diameter at the widest point is 5 inches. The flared neck is 3 1\/4 inches. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn excellent condition with no chips or damages. There is a little ting to the side in the making - perhaps a teeny weeny air bubble on the surface. It is so small and indistinct that I would not be able to photograph it - and you can only feel it if you run your finger over the area. I have never seen such a dark coloured glass used by Mdina - an interesting piece for your collection. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt will be sent to you with Royal Mail (tracked and signed for service). This will be applied to your order at the checkout.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHISTORY: \u003c\/strong\u003eMany thanks for the Glass Encyclopedia at 20thcentury glass.com for this short history of Mdina Glass. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMdina Glass\u003cspan\u003e was founded in the \u003c\/span\u003eMaltese\u003cspan\u003e town of \u003c\/span\u003eMdina\u003cspan\u003e, in 1968 by \u003c\/span\u003eMichael Harris\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003eEric Dobson\u003cspan\u003e, a risky venture at the time as Mdina had no history of glass making. However the gamble paid off, and Mdina glass was an instant success. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe company produced free formed organic glassware, often in colours inspired from the sea, sand, earth and sky, which proved very popular with tourists\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003eVicente Boffo\u003cspan\u003e and his son E\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ettore\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ejoined in 1969, having previously worked at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eWhitefriars\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e. Two other workers at the factory were brothers \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eJoseph Said\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ePaul Said\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e, who started as trainees. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eIn 1972 Michael left Mdina, and formed a new company, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eIsle of Wight Studio Glass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e, on the Isle of Wight in the UK, leaving Eric Dobson in charge of Mdina. Many of the designs created by Michael Harris continued to be made at Mdina Glass after he left, and new designs and patterns were added. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eIn 1981, Paul Said left to form \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eMtarfa Glass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e, also in Malta. Eric Dobson sold the Mdina factory to Joseph Said, who was Michael's most skilled apprentice, in 1985. From the mid 1990's, Joseph was joined by his four children, Nevise, Olivia, Pamela and Alan, in various roles. The company is still active today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Iconic Edinburgh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55505241211259,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/1902\/6240\/files\/1970s-mdina-glass-vase-ming-pattern-unusual-colours-nice-squat-shape-with-flared-trumpet-neck-signed-european-394.webp?v=1785134406","url":"https:\/\/www.iconicedinburgh.co.uk\/products\/1970s-mdina-glass-vase-ming-pattern-colours-ming-trumpet-neck-signed","provider":"Iconic Edinburgh","version":"1.0","type":"link"}