News & Updates

Hello Fellow Glass Enthusiasts !

It has taken 30 years but today I have had the privilege to not only handle but to be given the opportunity to sell, on behalf of the owner, the Holy Grail of Michael Harris' glass designs.

How many guesses do you all need ???!

A Mdina 'Crizzle Stone' vase signed by Michael.

THE most desirable, rare and iconic design he ever produced.

No small thanks must be given to the showing of a damaged, unsigned one by Andy McConnell on the Antiques Roadshow a short while ago. It was a joy to see Andy tease the owner and then give him reason to go apoplectic when he valued it ( albeit perhaps a little over enthusiastically for a damaged one but I am not complaining !) at £1000 - £1500.

Now this item has come to me by courtesy of the owner after seeing it on TV and realising that he not only had one on his mantle shelf but that it was signed by Michael. Well, how much better does it get ?

Well - not a lot for you avids !

However we have been anguishing over the dilemma of how we put it up for sale.

We had hoped to add it to the gems which are going into the Dan Klein/ Bonhams 20th century glass sale on the 19th May ( don't tell me you haven't heard !!) but too late - all entries are now closed and we got our catalogue today ( note - Tim and Jonathan Harris' pieces included).

So our only other option was to offer it this weekend (Sunday) at the National Glass Collectors Fair at the Motorcycle Museum (Jn 6 M42/A45), Birmingham.

Now to save a stampede, and we hope to be fair to all including the owner, we have decided to offer it by secret ballot/bidding.

I don't know if that is the right term but it boils down to anyone who wants to can supply us, by whatever method they wish, their bid between now and the close of the fair at 4pm on Sunday. The winner will be advised on Monday.

Simply ensure your name address, Tel. No. etc are on a small bidding form (A6 size if poss - that's A4 folded into four) and the highest bidder wins.

It will be on show at the fair. Please bring your own tissues to mop up tears and drool. Thanks.

Now - Please Note The special discount normally applicable to members of the Privileged Collectors Group does not apply I'm afraid as this is being sold on behalf of the owner and is not a part of our stock - sorry.

So........

Now how often in a lifetime's collecting is this opportunity going to arise and, in case you are wondering, I will not be placing a bid in my own name or by proxy - as with any other fairly run sale or auction. I simply want to get the best possible market price for the owner and this was the agreement on which he has given me the privilege to have it in my charge until sold.

No doubt there is the risk that one day my turn will come to own one - I hope.

REMINDERS FROM LETTER DATED 2/3/09

The National Glass Collectors Fair .Now at the National Motorcycle Museum M42 Jn 6./ A45 interchange. Birmingham.

Trust it is now in your diary. 100 of this country's most dedicated glass dealers under one roof. See you there then !

'Collectors Studio Day'

Isle of Wight Glass 'Collectors Studio Day' has had to be postponed until the 18th of October.

Get your name down now please and let us know if you intend to join us as we need your names for invitations which David will send out from the Studio.

Event restricted to members of our Artius Glass Privileged Collectors Club or the I.of W. Studio Glass Collectors Club (by subscription in other words).

Please remember to add a £10.00 contribution for any additional person over the first to help cover the cost of some of the wonderful catering.

The Studio has a different charging system for members of their Collectors Club so contact the Studio direct if you are coming as an IoWSG Collectors Club member.

As ever, our very best regards,

Ron & Ann

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Newsletter dated 12/05/09

The 'Crizzle Stone' vase

Well, what an exciting rollercoaster ride the sale was of THE most desirable, iconic, and certainly amongst the rarest items, of signed Michael Harris objects (the rarest would naturally be a 'one off' Mdina piece signed by him) .

We are talking of course the 'Crizzle Stone' vase which we took to the 'must do' Fair known as 'The National Glass Collectors Fair' now relocated to its place of birth at the National Motorcycle Museum close to the N.E.C. near Birmingham.

Without boring you with ALL the finer points it did prove, in the end, to be a fair fight although I had some reservations as to how I should conduct it. Part of the problem was the very limited amount of time to publicise it effectively before the fair.

My thanks go to the fair organisers Paul and Christina for the publicity and support they gave the showing of this very special piece.

All you avids were of course the first to know and, naturally, the subscription paid members got the first bite even though in this case it wasn't so relevant as it was a blind bid ending when the Fair finished at 4pm on the Fair day - Sunday 3rd May.

So as you may have now seen, or heard, the final bid and winner was a lady from 'oop nawth'. Image is now on our website.

Now a couple of intriguing facts have arisen relating to this iconic item. The first is that we now have estimated that currently there are 12 or so UNsigned ones in existence. We now know of 3 signed ones. One is in the States on which I bid a king's ransom when it came up for sale a year or two back. This one was withdrawn due to the extreme reaction from worldwide bidders offering him 'off eBay sums which frightened the pants off the seller as he had no idea of its importance (yes, I do have his email address !).

The second AND now the third are in this country and incredibly owned by the same lady ! There are possibly more but they have not come to light yet. Can anyone can update me ??.

In case you are still wondering, it sold for a 'within estimated value' sum of £3,400.00. I have no fear or concerns of being contradicted on that statement since it has been many times documented that a signed M.H. Mdina item is worth 3-5 times an unsigned one depending on rarity and desirability.

So even if you take an auctioneers spread of £1000 - £1500.00 for an unsigned one ( as per Andy McConnell in the Antiques Roadshow a few weeks back) the maths aren't difficult to figure that this became a good buy for the winner as it was a particularly nice example.

So there you are, gratifyingly, this now tends to firm up the value of such rare items and so it should when you consider that Michael was the very first British maker of commercially available Studio glass, laying the foundations for the viability and importance of the British Studio Glass movement. As I have said several times before......... "anyone for a heated debate??! "

In so many ways his sons, in particular Timothy, have taken this formula for success to even greater heights. I have told the story often, and it is worth repeating, that Michael once said to me,"Tim is a far more intuitive and innovative glass maker than I ever was - I just laid the foundations". Nuff said!!

Bonhams/ Dan Klein Auction

In exactly 7 days time (19th) probably the most important sale of 20th/21st Century Glass will be taking place for the first time at Bonhams of Bond St., London. Most of you will recall that this was in our last but one letter (4/4/09) but this is a final reminder to either encourage you to get there or at least look it up on their website. Some of THE finest and most desirable pieces collated (including 3 from the I.of W. - Tim/Jonathan) by this country's most prolific collector and champion of the British Studio Glass movement, Dan Klein and a sale - if repeated or not - not to be missed or at least viewed.

I advocate telephone bidding. I find it a very exciting way of bidding whilst keeping your anonymity if needs be, and excitement isn't easy to come by at a time of life when there is 'snow' on your roof - a.k.a. grey hair.

Mark has done a most remarkable job in writing and publishing the MOST comprehensive and definitive publication that there could possibly be on Michael and all that he was involved with over the years. Michael has, at last, become readily accepted as the original founder of the commercial success of British Studio Glass in a factory processing environment and this book certainly sets many issues straight by recognising his achievement.

Apart from that if you ever need to have a reference guide of products or values it will be an invaluable asset far outweighing its cover price. This apart from the fact that it is also, simply, a fascinating 'read'. It is easily usable as it can be carried in a large pocket or handbag and a great feature is a loose insert with the current values of every item illustrated. This will be regularly updated and can be sent to you when necessary, so the values will never be out of date.

Many thanks for your ongoing interest. Perhaps see you at a fair sometime soon where, if you prefer, we could supply you with your copy - post free naturally. Details of our fairs on our Fair Dates page.

Send to -

Ron & Ann Wheeler (cheque payee)

(email for full address)

STREET

Somerset BA16 0AN

Mark Hill's book 'Michael Harris - Mdina Glass & I.of W. Studio Glass'.

Still creating such a stir and rightly so. A finer epitaph to a great guy and man of vision in his dedication to the development of British studio glass you could never wish to read.

I am sure you are all very aware of it but if not treat yourself to the most definitive ( in fact the only) book on the subject charting a full history of the man and his work from his birth (1933) and early years through to his untimely death in 1994. Comments and testimonials on the book abound and all with a similar theme - 'Best value - worth far more than it's published price'.

It has limited distribution and the main sources would be Mark Hill at www.markhillpublishing.com We also are distributors www.artiusglass.co.uk as is Isle of Wight Studio Glass www.isleofwightstudioglass.co.uk with a cover price of £25.00 plus p&p.

Put it on your 'must have' list if you are even vaguely interested. With the effect it seems to be having on values of both studios you will not regret it. Enough said !!