(Click on image to enlarge)
A system of rating has been applied …….
Rated * possible connection to Boffo.
Rated ** possibly Boffo
Rated *** probably Boffo
Rated **** definitely Boffo
Born 17/07/1907 Vicente (Vincenzo) Boffo started work aged 14 in a glasshouse that made glass animals; this was probably in Murano Italy. Little is known about this period; later in Naples he is known to have worked making chandeliers in Vetreria Auriemma, which closed May 1958. He joined Whitefriars in 1959 as a Master Glassblower and in the factory he was known as Mr Boffo. He worked with his son Ettore (known as Hector). Ettore left Whitefriars in September1969 to join Michael Harris and Eric Dobson who jointly started Mdina Glass in Malta. Vicente left Whitefriars to be with Ettore about a year later (1970). Known as Papa at Mdina, Vicente used his years of experience to both design pieces and train apprentices. Sadly on 28/12/71 Ettore died of leukaemia (aged 30).
Vicente sadly died in Malta (1993) at the age of 85. His work has always been of the highest quality, much admired and today sought after by collectors. (Thanks to Wolfie Rayner for his help with the above history.)
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The only catalogued Boffo animal was the large penguin that appeared in the 1960/61 edition .
It was also shown in an advert in 1959.
This was the image used and the description
Note the Pattern number of 1082 and the colours, Amber, Arctic blue, Ocean green, Twilight, Flint and Ruby.
The quantity of penguins that Boffo produced are as follows,
Golden Amber - 253
Twilight - 342
Flint - 496
Ruby - 803
Ocean Green - 934
Arctic Blue - 1391
Total = 4219
Here is another pic from the photo albums showing the Penguin and Fish.
This 'frigger' large penguin below came from Joey Jones who was Boffo's footmaker in 1959. Made in Midnight Blue with White enamel. (the beak is sheared and not damaged)
Rated ****
This example was found by Brian Slingsby ( factory chemist ) in the factory stock room and is thought to be by Boffo
.Rated ** Private collection.
This penguin could be by either Boffo or Ray Annenberg.
Rated ** 4 1/4" high. Private collection.
3 images of fish from the factory photo albums.
A fish from the factory photo album 'Domestic E' ( circa 1959 )
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A fish from the factory photo album 'Domestic F' ( circa 1960 )
A fish from the factory photo album 'Domestic F' ( circa 1960 )
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Here is an image of two production fish....... (note top fin slopes forward and there is no texture to the body)
His fish did not appear in any catalogues but were certainly sold in retail outlets.
This workbook entry shows two fish samples for Mr Baxter dated 28th November 1959.
Production started 16th January 1960 and ended 27th August 1960.
In those eight months he made 655 Fish
A surprisingly large quantity but not as large as the 4000 plus Penguins .
Whilst at Whitefriars his fish were popular 'Friggers' but they were not the same as his production pieces. Below are some images of his hollow blown fish friggers……. They are approximately 8" long x 6" high.
Rated ****
Rated ****
This solid fish has a damaged top fin...... Rated ****
These swans are thought to be one of his factory friggers. Private collection Rated XXX
Boffo fish 'Friggers' made whilst he was working at Mdina, Malta.
Rated **** Height 8 1/2" without plinth. Note:- Probably a De-lux version with plinth and eye....
Eye detail................
Another frigger.
(Thanks to gourmetworrier.com for allowing me to use the image of this shop.)
Private collection Rated XXXX
It appears that Boffo made a quantity of Seals at Whitefriars.
Rated ****
They do not appear in any photo albums but are mentioned here in an exhibition catalogue…….
They were also mentioned in a letter that had been sent to William Wilson thanking him for the offer of 2 seals and 6 penguins to the Duke of Edinburgh. I suspect that this was after a visit by the duke to the factory.
Note :- The following pieces all have provenance directly linked to the factory.
He made many "friggers" during his time at Whitefriars.
Private collection Rated XXXX
Rated XXXX
Rated XXXX
Harrow Heritage Center. Rated XXXX
Private collection
Rated XXXX
Rated XXXX
Rats (lighting amber)
Private collection Rated XXXX
Private collection Rated XXXX
Private collection Rated XXXX
Rated XXXX
Harrow Heritage Center. Rated XXXX
Private collection
Rated XXXX
When Vicente joined Mdina he used the same heads for the horse weights.
This pair of fish were been made before he joined Whitefriars.
Private collection.
Rabbit frigger made at Mdina
Private collection.
Frigger made at Mdina
Private collection.
Private collection.
He introduced this style of fish at MDG.
He also came up with the idea of the base pads for the MDG Chinese animals........(Note these may be samples and not made by him)
I would also like to share this story that tells of his first venture into glass blowing that happened before he started as an apprentice,aged 14.
"He actually started even earlier missing school and going to peep behind the doors of a factory. He would then go home, mix flour and water then get a long macaroni and pretend he was gathering glass”
2 early images.
