Mdina Axe Fish Head Vase Hand-Blown & Signed by Michael Harris 1978

Description

Gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Mdina Malta blue glass vase. A highly sought-after piece, this hand-blown Axe Fish Head vase is signed … more Gorgeous Mid-Century Modern Mdina Malta blue glass vase. A highly sought-after piece, this hand-blown Axe Fish Head vase is signed and dated by Michael Harris (1978) on the base. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or previous repairs.

From a 2016 article in the Times Malta:
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 glassmaker’s hallmark designs, could go for as much as €4,000.

“There are a number of reasons why Michael’s 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 didn’t want to put down too many markers. He was always pushing himself and his staff to do better.”

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 Harris’s 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 weren’t 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.” less