Description
This is an original Mdina Glass handmade square ashtray or trinket dish, produced in Malta during the company’s 50th-anniversary year in 2018.
Despite measuring only approximately 6.5 cm square, it is a wonderfully substantial little piece of studio glass. Flowing ribbons of orange, yellow, blue and white are encased within the thick clear glass, creating a vivid abstract pattern that changes when viewed from different angles.
The side retains its original commemorative label reading:
“50 Years • Mdina Glass • Handmade • 1968–2018”
Its compact size makes it suitable for use as a:
The strong colours, rounded square form and considerable weight give it plenty of decorative presence despite its small dimensions. Every handmade Mdina Glass piece has natural variations in its internal pattern, making each example visually individual.
Condition
Pre-owned and stored for some time, with light surface wear consistent with handling and storage.
A textured area is visible within the central well. This appears to be within the glass and may be associated with its handmade production, but it has been clearly photographed so that buyers can assess it for themselves.
No chips or cracks have been noted. The original 1968–2018 anniversary label remains attached, showing some expected surface wear.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.
Maker & History
Mdina Glass was founded in Malta in 1968 by British glass designer Michael Harris, with Eric Dobson also playing an important role during its formative years.
The company introduced contemporary studio-glass production to Malta and became recognised for its substantial organic forms, Mediterranean colours and distinctive internal swirls.
Michael Harris left Mdina in 1973 and subsequently established Isle of Wight Studio Glass in Britain. The two names are therefore historically connected, although Mdina Glass has its own distinct Maltese identity and should not be confused with Murano glass.
This piece was made in 2018, when Mdina Glass celebrated 50 years of glassmaking in Malta.
Did You Know?
Mdina Glass is named after Malta’s historic fortified city of Mdina, often called the Silent City.
The studio’s flowing colour combinations were inspired by the Maltese landscape, sea and intense Mediterranean light. Because the patterns are formed by hand, two examples of the same design will never be completely identical.
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