This a very attractive Mdina glass vase with a small flared neck. It has an engraved signature to the base: Mdina.
It is an early piece with a very darker turquoise blue glass - with a striped pattern to the main part of the body. The blue is so dark you have to look at it closely to see the stripes when it is on display. This striped pattern is called Ming and dates to the mid 1970s.
It is a lovely stylish shape. It measures 5 inches in height - and the diameter at the widest point is 5 1/2 inches. The flared neck is 2 3/4 inches.
In excellent condition with no chips or damages. There are some air bubbles in the glass. These were created when the vase was being blown. There are some white flashes on my images - these are not on the vase. The glass is very glossy and this is only some reflections.
It will be sent to you with Royal Mail (tracked and signed for service). This will be applied to your order at the checkout.
HISTORY: Many thanks for the Glass Encyclopedia at 20thcentury glass.com for this short history of Mdina Glass.
Mdina Glass was founded in the Maltese town of Mdina, in 1968 by Michael Harris and Eric Dobson, 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.
The company produced free formed organic glassware, often in colours inspired from the sea, sand, earth and sky, which proved very popular with tourists. Vicente Boffo and his son Ettore joined in 1969, having previously worked at Whitefriars. Two other workers at the factory were brothers Joseph Said and Paul Said, who started as trainees.
In 1972 Michael left Mdina, and formed a new company, Isle of Wight Studio Glass, 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.
In 1981, Paul Said left to form Mtarfa Glass, 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.