Mdina Glass

The Original Glass of Malta

The Beginning

Eric Dobson and Michael Harris came to Malta from the UK with the aim of opening Malta's first ever glassware manufacturer. The company, Mdina Glass, became an active glassmaking company in 1968.

This is the first of a series of achievements for Mdina Glass. Just two years down the line Mdina Glass would already be participating in international trade fairs and exporting to Italy and America. In 1971, two Italian maestros were brought over by Mdina Glass to introduce Italian glassmaking techniques to Malta. Exports of Mdina Glass products to the UK commence, and soon this becomes the company’s main overseas market in terms of direct and indirect exports. A year later, Mdina Glass welcomes HRH Princess Anne as part of a state visit to Malta.

A Catalyst for Change

After just a couple of years, Michael Harris left Mdina Glass, leaving Eric Dobson to run the company. In 1975, Joseph Said became the company’s Production Manager and acted as a catalyst for a number of changes, revolutionising the way the company operated and what it produced.

Mdina Glass increased the number of skilled glassmakers and expanded output to meet the considerable increase in the demand for their products and enhanced quality control measures. This period also saw the beginning of the use of crystal cutting techniques. By 1976 exports to Germany were underway, while in 1983, Mdina Glass furthered its overseas sales drive to Japan.

The Said Legacy

In 1985 Eric Dobson chose to return to the UK and relinquish control of the company. Joseph Said stepped into his shoes, becoming the owner of Mdina Glass. Under new ownership, Mdina Glass invested heavily in new equipment and in researching new techniques. In 1987 Mdina Glass won the International Award for Tradition and Prestige in Brussels. The same year also saw the company’s first exports to France.

Two years later, Mdina Glass presented a glass sculpture to the Maltese Prime Minister to commemorate the Bush – Gorbechev Malta summit. In 1992, the company won the Malta Achievement in Industry Award.

Further significant changes in glassmaking techniques, production processes and product range marked the 1990s. Basic raw materials were changed for those of a much higher quality. In 1990, Mdina Glass introduced lampworking techniques to Malta, and by 1995 its artisans were also honing their skills in applying the newly introduced fusion techniques to a whole new range of products.

The early 90's also saw the company starting to export to various countries, a trend that continued throughout the 90's and up to the present day. In 1996 the former President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter and Mrs Carter, visited Mdina Glass.