Splendid Mid-century Mdina Bottle 13 1/4"/amazing color

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Splendid Mid-century Mdina Bottle 13 1/4"/amazing color

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Sold Date: 02/16/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Glass

A 13 1/4" tall Mdina Glass bottle. This is an unsigned piece, but is without a doubt a product of the famous Maltese glass factory. This factory was founded in 1969 on the island of Malta by an English glass artist named Michael Harris and its wares were distributed in the United States through the Georges Briard company.

Employing Italian glassblowers as well as local Maltese, Mdina specialized in a studio-type glass of quite extraordinary beauty. The style of the glass and the colors used were inspired by the island and surrounding sea.

This particular example is the most intensely saturated turqoise with swirls and trails of green, gold and sand. The photographs can only begin to convey the vibrancy of these colors. In person, with sunlight pouring through it, it's a knockout.

It's not just the coloration of the piece that makes it so stunning. The off-kilter, assymetric shape is reminiscent of ancient Roman glass -- it is primitive and elegant at the same time. It's also a heavy piece of glass (nearly three pounds) with incredible presence. It reminds me of some bottles that Bertil Valien designed for Kosta Boda in the '80s, but it is more attenuated and somehow stronger than those pieces.

The condition of this piece is superb. The base is ground and polished. As I said, t is no signature and no Mdina label, but t is the remnant of a small strip of paper on the bottom on which I can just make out "Made in Malta". It may have been attached by a previous owner as a reminder of w it came from. Even without this clue, this gorgeous bottle is not only obviously Mdina Glass, it is the quinessential Mdina bottle.

I have included a photo of some other pieces of glass that I have listed this week. Please check my other auctions for these pieces as well as some mid-century ceramics and enamelware.

Greetings, fellow eBay browsers and bidders! My sales policies are few and simple. Payment: I accept PayPal, money orders and personal checks (PayPal only outside of the U.S.). Payment must be received within 7 days of auction's end. High bidder must either contact me or pay within 48 hours of auction's end. If I don't hear from you by then, I reserve the right to relist the item. Shipping: I usually ship by Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation. Books may go by Media Mail if you prefer saving money over time! I ship fast (as soon as I have your payment or your check has cleared) and am known for excellent packing. Feedback: As a seller, I leave feedback for my customers just as soon as I see that they have left it for me, letting me know that they have received their item and are pleased with the transaction, that it is complete. Thanks for your kind attention. Happy bidding!