Mdina Glass was founded in the Maltese town of Mdina in 1968 by Michael Harris and Eric Dobson. The town had no history of glass making but the venture proved to be a success. Its wares, free formed organic glassware, often in colours inspired from the sea, sand, earth and sky, proved very popular with tourists visiting Malta. Michael Harris left Mdina in 1972 and formed a new company, Isle of Wight Studio Glass, on the Isle of Wight, UK, leaving Eric Dobson in charge, but many of the designs he created continued to be made at Mdina Glass after his departure although new designs and patterns were added as well. Ownership of the company later changed but it is still producing a popular range of glasswares today.

Similar paperweights can be found but all of them have a frosted glass Maltese cross in the clear central panel at the front. Perhaps this was the intention here, but, whatever the result, we have what seems to be an unusual variation. Dating is probably to the late twentieth century and this piece would be a useful and attractive addition to a collection of Mdina wares.