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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: chuggy on April 21, 2006, 06:33:11 PM

Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 21, 2006, 06:33:11 PM
I've been over the previous threads on marbles, but do we have anyone over this side of the pond who is really knowledgeable? The reason being on Sunday I'm going to visit an old friend who has a collection of 654 marbles which are all supposed to be 19th century or earlier glass examples. All sizes apparently and some with paperweight bits in them, his words not mine. I've checked out:-

http://www.marblealan.com/my.htm

which is a great site, but just wondered if we have an expert over here. I'm going to have to sell them for this pal as he has bad health problems and is trying to sort things out before it gets too late, so any help appreciated.
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: Max on April 21, 2006, 07:07:34 PM
There's a yellow latticino (central core) marble, with coloured + gold aventuriny stripes in my local antique shop.  It's very dog eared, and they want £10 for it.   :shock:  :shock:

Hey Paul?  Don't forget to take your camera on Sunday.  :wink:
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 21, 2006, 07:09:17 PM
I'm bringing them home with me Max so I can picture them at my leisure, I've promised to help out with these so I'm really in at the deep end.
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: AlmasAttic on April 21, 2006, 07:48:28 PM
Hi
there is a specific forum on Auctionbytes for marbles...maybe someone there can point you in the right direction

http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=36

:)
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David E on April 21, 2006, 07:59:20 PM
Thanks for bringing this subject up, Paul.

I have a load of antique marbles that I'd like to ID, so these links will motivate me to actually do something. Thanks to AlmasAttic as well.
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: Bernard C on April 21, 2006, 08:29:24 PM
See also http://marbleconnection.invisionzone.com

There seems to be plenty of help out there.

I saw a tip on photographing marble interiors.   Wet them, with water if you are quick, oil if you take your time. So that you can see and photograph what's inside through a worn surface. And yes, I would also be cautious about buying them online, but not significantly more so than buying any other types of glass online. It's not cheating if you explain what you have done, or better, also include a photograph of the dry marble.

Bernard C.  8)
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 21, 2006, 08:31:50 PM
Thanks for all the help so far, I'll post some piccys when I get them on Sunday, but they do sound interesting.
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: Max on April 21, 2006, 09:23:33 PM
Thanks Bernard.  Noted.  I was only thinking out loud though, I wasn't meaning to accuse anyone of subterfuge.  :)  :wink:  :oops:
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David555 on April 21, 2006, 11:48:19 PM
I used to sell marbles on eBay – I still have many fine examples

My method to get the best pictures was using pure daylight and a good digital camera. I would use a stick attached to one end of a desk by a window ensuring the window had only sky as it's view - I would then stick the marble (they are not heavy, even the 1.5" diam ones) on the end of the stick with a tiny piece of white-tack. I would align the camera using books to get the correct height for a dead shot, no flash - macro on modern cameras allows for infinite detail.

Morning or late afternoon skies give best results (on a clear day of course)

German marbles 1860s - 1920s were my best sellers

Latticinio Core Swirl
Two layer Latticinio Core Swirl
Divided Core Swirl
Solid Core Swirl
Ribbon Core (only the older kind)
Onionskin (if by a good maker can be worth lots)

There are many more like 'Peppermint Swirl' and 'Clambroth'

The best maker I could hope for was ‘Lutz’ - containing aventurine and made to perfection

Price wise I always got about a third of any book price

American marbles were less hot, they are not as old as German ones, but some 1920s ‘Christensen Agate’ marbles are valued at £250.00 – mostly I got ‘Akro’ or ‘Peltier’

Collectors don't like nasty chips but a few nicks here and there is a sign of age as is the roughly ground patch at each end of the core (showing manufacture) - older marbles are never perfectly round - that came later 1920s 30s onwards with machine made marbles

I sold to some very knowledgeable guys. It was a while ago but I can always invite them to the board :?:


Adam P
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David555 on April 22, 2006, 12:23:35 AM
I have a set of 1960s marbles that I let friends children play with - they are excellent used in a game of solitaire with an old wooden game board.

I gave my nephew two valuable ones and told him they used to be adored by Victorian children who would swap them like pokemon cards (I think that is why we still have so many older ones in OK condition)

It hasn't sunk through because it is not within range of his peer group

Strangely enough he loves glass animals and is after my collection of Seguso and Pirelli animals - I have given him a few as I think he has an instinct for collecting - he has a beautiful shelf with pieces he has been given and bought himself - I like to see this amongst all his PSP and XBox gear (mind you they will probably be worth something one day LOL)

Adam P
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 23, 2006, 04:21:19 PM
I'm afraid the collecting of the marbles has been put off until later in the week as the owner was having a bad day health wise and not up to a visit, but watch this space.
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David555 on April 23, 2006, 08:24:10 PM
I took pictures of a few of my marbles (!) ref my suggested way the other day – I find a black background works best – the cut away process unfortunately shows the marble as rounder than it is – all apart from the agate have ground away points at each end of the core.

1.5” diameter latticinio core marble with multi coloured swirls (three colours to each swirl) – the yellow/orange latticinio core strand is sought after – German 1880 – 1920s

(http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/4521/18ma3.th.jpg) (http://img128.imageshack.us/my.php?image=18ma3.jpg)

0.75” solid core swirl (three swirled bands in groups of six) – German 1880 – 1920s

(http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2764/58br.th.jpg) (http://img407.imageshack.us/my.php?image=58br.jpg)

0.75 red agate marble probably by Akro – USA 1920 – 30s

(http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7030/68zo.th.jpg) (http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=68zo.jpg)

1.8” Victorian ‘dump’ glass marble – made from same glass as dump glass paperweights

(http://img445.imageshack.us/img445/9804/28md.th.jpg) (http://img445.imageshack.us/my.php?image=28md.jpg)

1.5” ribbon core marble with tight outer swirls – the inner core made from blue glass overlaid on white, formed like a peeled orange skin – German 1880 – 1920s

(http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1070/33ea.th.jpg) (http://img441.imageshack.us/my.php?image=33ea.jpg)

0.75” solid core swirl (two colours to each swirl) – German 1880 – 1920s

(http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/6887/40yy.th.jpg) (http://img67.imageshack.us/my.php?image=40yy.jpg)


Thanks


Adam P
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 23, 2006, 08:29:29 PM
Great pictures Adam, I'll be picking your brains when I finally get hold of these.
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David555 on April 23, 2006, 08:38:49 PM
No problem Paul

I am OK with basics - when it comes to rare marbles with complex cores and the addition of mica or aventurine I am less sure. Like I have said I know a few collectors who can help out with really rare and obscure ones, some guys are able to tell you who in Germany or Austria made a marble - I can't stretch as far as that.

Looking forward to seeing any pics you get


Adam
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 29, 2006, 03:13:03 PM
I managed to get these marbles now, and though I haven't had a chance to sort them all yet here's a couple of pictures of a few to whet the appetites. Please tell me if they are any good or not as I need to sell them all for him.

http://i3.tinypic.com/wri2rb.jpg

http://i3.tinypic.com/wri4ag.jpg

Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: RAY on April 29, 2006, 05:14:52 PM
there the same as mine Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 29, 2006, 05:54:18 PM
Is that good or bad Ray?
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: RAY on April 29, 2006, 05:59:09 PM
not sure i know nowt about them, try them under UV light as some of mine glow green
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David555 on April 29, 2006, 08:52:11 PM
Hi Paul

They are mostly c 1920 - 1935s machine made in USA.

Picture one shows a variety of USA made 'Agate / Slag' marbles - the swirled colour marbles look like 'Christensen', 'Peltier', 'Akro' but could also be by a raft of other USA companies - this is the best link you will find http://www.marblealan.com/ (see 'Identification guide' in blue).

The two toned marbles (without clear glass) are very interesting and look like 'Akro Prize Name' marbles.

Picture two 'Agate / Slag' marbles 'Christensen', 'Peltier', 'Akro', etc. (again have a look at site) 'Whirpool Swirls' & 'Two Tone Swirs' perhaps- I don't know what the large striped sphere is (looks interesting) right under it looks like an 'Akro Rainbow'

Very front looks like a 'Core Onionskin' not to sure - is USA 1920s and not a 'Cats Eye'

Most interesting for me is the opaque marble with the clear and coloured 'Eye' sections - I don't know what it is - I am sure the guy that runs the above site will.

It is pretty complex as you will see - so I may be well off :(

You could do worse than send a good selection of JPEGS to guys email at bottom of main page - he has helped me in the past.


Adam P
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 29, 2006, 09:00:06 PM
Thanks Adam, these are really just the tip of a very big iceberg and tomorrow I'm going to gently wash a few and try for some more pictures, but I'm struck by the variety of them. The very large one in the 2nd picture is sone sort of stone and I think will clean up nicely. Thanks for your thoughts which give me a good starting point to go forward from.
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David555 on April 29, 2006, 11:18:05 PM
This link on the website I gave covers stone, ceramic and other non glass marbles - it makes for excellent reading.

http://www.marblealan.com/nonglass/

Adam P
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: Max on April 29, 2006, 11:45:56 PM
I wasn't going to say anything because I know nothing about marbles  :roll: but that large one you speak of is interesting.  I wonder how old that one is??  It looks almost pre-marble  :?: if there is such a thing...

Of the glass marbles, I was quite taken with the small one bottom right 2nd photo with the almost millefiore 'eye'.  Looks more like a bead than a marble...
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 30, 2006, 01:41:32 PM
Interesting one this it's got 4 murrinhe's and the background is a lovely streaky toffee colour, it is also one of the few that has a noticeable pontil scar.

http://i3.tinypic.com/wthsia.jpg

Only one of these I'm afraid and interested in any ideas on ID for this one. I'm currently sorting and trying to list the various agate ones, frustrating job this!!!
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on April 30, 2006, 04:51:00 PM
Hi Ray tested them all and only the odd one glows under UV, around a dozen out of 650+
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: David555 on May 01, 2006, 08:20:51 PM
Quote
Hi Adam (ref your marbles) --- descriptions look pretty much spot on, though the one labeled Akro Agate is unidentifiable (but American, ca. 1940s). The photos are great too!
 
Chuggy's marbles are a mix of types, some European origin but most American---I see Akro Agate, Peltier, Marble King, and others I cannot readily identify as to maker.
 
Thanks for the nice comments about my site! ~~~Alan
 
Alan's Marble Connection http://marblealan.com/
Running Rabbit http://runningrabbit.com/


Response from Alan - marble expert


Adam P
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: chuggy on May 01, 2006, 09:43:13 PM
Thanks Adam I'll picture a few more in the week, I've sorted them into 3 lots at present, and now working to break them down within those 3 big categories.
Paul
Title: Marbles anyone?
Post by: Frank on May 06, 2006, 03:13:43 PM
Local toy shop sell marbles made in Mexico. Huge variety of sizes an colours at around €0.09 a piece.