Art Glass A good Maltese Mdina Cut Ice Fish Vase signed Michael Harris 1968 72

  

Art Glass : A good Maltese Mdina Cut Ice Lollipop Vase signed Michael Harris- circa 1968 - 72. A very good hand blown Maltese Mdina Cut Ice Lollipop Vase multicoloured.

Very nice piece - Michael Harris signed. Good Condition - please see images. 8 inches (20.5cm) height 6.25 inches (13.5cm) width X 2 inches (5cm) depth approx. Signed: Michael Harris - Mdina Glass - Malta.

The Mdina Glass factory was founded in Malta in 1968 by Michael Harris (1933 94), an ex- RCA tutor, who was inspired by the scenery on the island, and the colours used in the glass reflect the sun, sea and sand of the landscape. Due to the political situation he left in 1972 and set up the Isle of Wight Glass factory.

Since 1981 the Mdina factory has been run by Joseph Said, one of the original apprentices, and is still producing high quality glass. The pieces from the early years are highly desirable, particularly those signed by Michael Harris himself. According to Mark Hill, author of Michael Harris: Mdina Glass and Isle of Wight Studio Glass, that incredibly rare signature could increase the worth of the piece three times over. For a small bowl by Mr Harris, the presence of a signature could bring the value up to 250.

On the other hand, a highly sought-after fish vase, one of the glassmakers hallmark designs, could go for as much as 4,000. There are a number of reasons why Michaels signature is so rare, Mr Hill explained. Although he was the lead designer, he subscribed to the idea that the work of the company was the work of the company, not of any one person. Michael also had a very strong feeling that his best work would be done tomorrow, so he didnt want to put down too many markers. He was always pushing himself and his staff to do better. We all like something thats by the hand of the master.

While the value of any individual piece is still highly dependent on its quality relative to others, Mr Harriss signature adds a personal touch for which collectors are willing to pay a premium. Collectors love the idea of a designer name, Mr Hill said. Mr Harris first came to Malta in 1968, driven by a desire to create something fresh away from the preconceptions that dominated the British glassmaking scene at the time.

The early days of Mdina Glass, in fact, followed the studio glass movement that was then sweeping Europe. Instead of mass-produced factory designs, Mr Harriss pieces were all made entirely by hand, so while they looked fundamentally similar, each piece was unique. The incredible thing about studio glass is that you could actually watch it being made, Mr Hill said. You just werent allowed to do that in a factory. Michael opened up the studio and allowed people to come in and see the incredible spectacle of glass being made. For many people, he was the artist. Despite having established a highly successful business almost from the start, Mr Harris left Malta just four years later, in 1972.

With a new government in power, according to Mr Hill, the feeling was that he had fulfilled his usefulness. Mr Harris passed away in 1994, but the glassworks he created are today as sought-after as they have ever been.

With Michaels work, theres such variety and proliferation that theres always the challenge of finding a better or bigger one, Mr Hill said. Moreover, as the market for decorative antiques has grown, Mr Harriss work has the added distinction of fitting in well with modern interiors, according to Mr Hill. People are looking for more unusual pieces, pieces with stories that fit in their homes. Mdina Glass does that very well it fits in just as well on an 18th-century oak coffer as it does on a 1960s teak sideboard.

While predicting the market in the face of ever-changing tastes is never easy, Mr Hill said with confidence that over the last decade, Mdina Glass has grown in popularity to become one of the most sought-after names in collectibles. Michael was a great innovator, thinker and marketer, he said. Its wonderful to see his work being appreciated for what it is: art combined with glass. The item "Art Glass A good Maltese Mdina Cut Ice Fish Vase signed Michael Harris 1968 72" is in sale since Saturday, March 28, 2020. This item is in the category "Pottery, Porcelain & Glass\Glass\Art Glass\Maltese". The seller is "icollect-cella" and is located in london. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• retro: retro glass
• Colour: Multi
• Style: Mid-Century Modern
• Original/Reproduction: Vintage Original
• Malta: Malta glass
• Mediterranean: vintage Maltese glass
• collectibles: contemporary glass
• art glass: vintage Mdina glass
• Michael Harris: Michael Harris Glass
• Features: Signed
• Object Type: Vase
• Glassmaking Technique: Hand Blown
• Type of Glass: Cut Glass
• Subject/Theme: Fish
• Brand: Mdina Glass