Are marbles worth any money?
Although marbles can be affordable for all collector budgets, avid collectors know that prices can range into the thousands of dollars. Note that unscrupulous dealers have been known to reproduce marbles and sell them as old or antique. Judith Miller in Buy, Keep or Sell? suggests looking for solitaire boards, avoiding marbles such as Cat's Eyes that were mass-produced after the 1960s, and look for the original packaging.
How to determine value of vintage collectible marbles?
- Clay marbles: They were usually cheap, as they were made from local clay―white clay called kaolin. They were not perfect in shape.
- Stone marbles: They were made by grinding the stones to give them a round shape. ...
- Glass marbles: These vintage marbles were manufactured using a glassblowing technique, inducing characteristics like bubbles and pontils.
How to tell if marbles are valuable?
A Helpful Guide to Identify Antique Marbles
- Believe it or not!!! The exact origin of the marble still remains a mystery. ...
- Clay Marbles. They were produced in bulk between 1800 and 1900 in Germany and the United States. ...
- Stone Marbles. Besides clay, stones like Agates, Alabaster, Limestone, etc., were used to create marbles. ...
- Glass Marbles. ...
- Equipment Required. ...
- Make. ...
- Appearance. ...
What is the most valuable antique marble?
What type of marbles are valuable?
- Opaque Lutz Marble – $25,000.
- End of Days Onionskin Marble – $14,950.
- Single Gather Confetti Mica Marble – $10,999.
- Onionskin Swirl Marble – $10,350.
- Onionskin Blizzard Marble – $9,775.
- Indian Mag Lite Marble – $9,200.
- Single Pontil Birdcage Marble – $7,800.
- Painted Standing Bear Sulphide Marble – $2,850.
How do I know if my marbles are valuable?
Marbles will be worth more money if they are completely rounded. For older marbles, the roundness indicates the amount of time an artisan put into making the toy. More time means a better shape and more value. With newer models, perfectly round marbles have been well kept.
What kind of marbles are valuable?
15 Most Valuable Marbles Worth a FortuneNo.NamePrice1Green Base Glass Oddball Handmade Antique Marble$3,6002German Spotty Onionskin Marble With Heavy Mica$1,8003Rare Vintage Large Multicolor Glass Marble$1,6004Rare 9/16 Onion Skin Lutz Floater Marble$1,47511 more rows
What marbles are the most collectible?
Single Gather Confetti Mica Marble While a painted confetti pattern is common on cheaper marbles, this marble's specks are made with mica crystals. In incredible condition for such an antique marble, Morphy's Auction house described it as the 'rarest marble to ever enter its auction house.
What is the rarest color of marbles?
Blue, pink, and green are rarer. Some are referred to as Melon Balls. Other opaque, pastel or translucent colors are even rarer. Single pontil marbles, either single-gather or end- of-cane are very rare.
What can you do with old marbles?
You can relax on one of these while you do your marble crafts!Glass Marble Bracelet.DIY Marble Candleholder.DIY Cracked Marble Jewelry.Easy DIY Faux Stained Glass Window.Lovely DIY Garden Mobile/Windchime.Cute DIY Garden Treasure Jars – Kids Project!Marble Designed Coat Rack.Gorgeous DIY Grape Cluster Ornaments.More items...•
Which marble is more expensive?
Calacatta is widely regarded as the most expensive marble available.
What are the oldest marbles?
Some ancient marbles have been found that are more than 3,000 years old. These include specimens found in Greece, Italy, Turkey, and Israel.
How do you identify agate marbles?
2:1315:45Christensen Agate Marbles Identification - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd a single seam marble often shows a diaper fold pattern when viewed from the correct angleMoreAnd a single seam marble often shows a diaper fold pattern when viewed from the correct angle Christensen used a variety of colors. And including the harder to find yellow oranges.
What is a cat's eye marble?
Cats Eye Marble is a clear glass machine-made marble with the traditional cat's eye design trapped inside, with multiple canes of colour trapped in the centre. This is the marble design that most people remember from when they were kids. Come in assorted colours so you may not get the colour combination pictured.
Where are marbles found?
Marbles have been found at historical sites from Egyptian pyramids to Native American mounds. More modern marble related event and associations continue this long-standing tradition. The annual marble tournament in Tinsley Green, England has been held on Good Friday for the past 300 years.
What is a vintage marble?
Vintage Marbles – A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting. Amy Mortensen · February 24, 2019. Marbles are defined as round spherical objects used to play games; they have been in existence for at least 3,000 years. Marbles have been found at historical sites from Egyptian pyramids to Native American mounds. More modern marble related event and ...
What is a pontil mark?
This mark is formed when the marble is removed from the pontil rod during production.
How long have clay marbles been in the river?
If clay marbles had been in the river for 100 years, they would have broken down and washed away ages ago. These false pieces are easy to spot as they are hefty for clay and have crude graphics drawn in marker; they may also have imitation crazing added to make them look older. Condition.
Where is the National Marbles Tournament held?
In the United States, The National Marbles Tournament is held on the third weekend of June in Wildwood, New Jersey. Antique glass marbles are highly collectible and the types range from handmade examples of German glass-makers in the 1800s to U.S. machine-made marbles of the early and mid-1900s. The majority of antique handmade glass marbles came ...
When were glass marbles made?
German Handmade Glass Marbles - 1850's to Early 1900s. German Handmade marbles are one of the first types of marbles brought to the United States. These marbles remain one of the most popular types of collectible marbles throughout the world. There are hundreds of color combinations and styles, but most fall into the following categories:
Do marbles appraise?
The condition is so important. Marbles that are chipped and in rough condition will not appraise for much. Marbles are antique toys made of glass or clay and like any glass antique, chips, cracks, and scratches can all lower the final value of each item significantly.
Brief History Of Antique Marbles
As popular as they were, no one knows for a fact who invented marbles or the exact period they surfaced. However, owing to the fact that they were found in ancient Egyptian tombs, children’s tombs in Nepal, and even Native American Mounds, we know they’ve been around since the early times — possibly around 3000 years ago.
How to identify antique marbles
In the 1800s, marbles were being mass-produced and shipped to locations of high demand. As expected, original and antique marbles were limited in number and thus, expensive — some trading as high as $7,000 – $9,000.
How to value antique marbles
The value of any antique marble is largely based on the condition. Marbles that are dulled, chipped, crapped, or heavily scratched out are less valuable.
Final Thoughts!
One important thing to note is that antique marbles could have been crafted during the transition period. This period was when marble-making machines were being introduced into the industry. Hence, some antique marbles are machine-made.
What are antique glass marbles?
Antique glass marbles are highly collectible, from handmade examples by German glassmakers of the 1800s to vintage marbles made by machine in the early 20th century by U.S. companies like Christensen, Peltier Glass, Akro Agate, and Vitro Agate.... Antique glass marbles are highly collectible, from handmade example s by German glassmakers ...
When were marbles first made?
Marbles known as "transitionals" or "hand-gathered marbles" were first made at glassworks near Akron, Ohio, starting in the 1890s.
How many types of German swirl marbles are there?
There are five types of German swirl marbles. The most typical are the antique latticino core marbles, which were created from the 1840s (the beginning of glass marble production) until the mid-1920s. Most cores of these old marbles are white or yellow.
Why are postwar marbles less vibrant than older marbles?
Postwar marbles are also notably less vibrant than older marbles because they were made of cheaper glass. Often, mid-century marbles were produced with simple clear bases and color applied to their surfaces. Continue reading. Antique glass marbles are highly collectible, from handmade examples by German glassmakers of the 1800s to vintage marbles ...
What is Lutz marble known for?
The later are extremely rare marbles. Lutz marbles are known for their beautiful swirls of goldstone decoration. Goldstone, glass made with copper crystals, was first discovered in Venice in the 1600s, but antique marbles using the material weren’t produced until the early 1900s, just before World War I .
What are the most common marbles in the 1950s?
By the 1950s, the most common marbles were "cat's eyes, " which are clear marbles injected with one to three curved streaks of colors in their centers. While some cat's eyes are rare, most were mass-produced. Postwar marbles are also notably less vibrant than older marbles because they were made of cheaper glass.
How are marbles made?
Marbles would be created by a glass blower heating up a transparent glass cane, clear or colored, and then attaching slender rods of opaque colored glass. This glass would be fired and pulled into a single cane from 20 to 50 inches long, which would then be twisted.
Different Types of Marbles
Agates: (often called ‘aggies’), these are marbles made from nature agate, most of which were quarried and produced in Germany.
How Antique Marbles are Graded
The grading of antique marbles is very subjective and every collector has their own way of grading a marble. Grading is undertaken in the following categories; mint, near mint, good, and collectible, and is based on a grade between 1 and 10.
Our Favourite Vintage and Antique Marbles
We’ve made sure when compiling this list that there’s a variety of options both for collectors, hobbyists, and those looking for the nostalgic novelty of a good marble. We’ve broken our list down into a variety of sub-categories to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.
Why are vintage marbles more attractive than modern marbles?
Check Their Appearance. Vintage marbles are typically more attractive and brighter than modern ones because they were individually made, compared to the new ones that were made in high quantities.
What are marbles used for?
Image courtesy: flickr.com. Marbles have been around since early times. Various civilizations used them for recreation, like they are used in modern times. The Egyptians believed that those that were made with animal bones could serve as spiritual mediums. Although not as many people play marble games as before, ...
How to tell if a marble is vintage?
Here are some ways to determine if a marble is vintage or not: 1. Look for the Pontil. Most vintage marbles were made by hand through the process called glassblowing. During this procedure, a stick is used where the marble is attached. Once done, the stick is broken on its end. This leaves a tiny rough patch on the marble, ...
Do antique marbles have bubbles?
Aside from the pontil, antique marbles typically have flaws including bubbles. This doesn’t mean that you need to look for a damaged or broken marble, as this would affect its value. However, do not expect to see a perfect looking marble, because if you get one, it may probably not be vintage. 4.
Can marbles break?
While modern marbles are also used for playing, the glass used is not as high quality as the old ones so they could easily break. They are cheaper and produced in mass volumes so they can be replaced easily even when chipped or damaged. 5. Consider the Seller.
Is it possible to be old when selling marbles?
If the person selling the marbles is old, they are more likely to be old too. However, this is not always the case as it could also be possible that the marbles were purchased recently or someone might have just given them to him. Make sure to ask the seller about the origin of the marbles.
Is a marble made by machine?
Although most new marbles are made by machine therefore leaving them without pontil, there are still those that are handmade. That being said, the pontil is just one of the factors to consider when determining if the marble is vintage or not.
What is a brown marble called?
Crockery Marbles - Most crockery or stoneware marbles were brown with a blue glaze. They are called Benningtons because their glaze resembles that of the brown and blue glazed Bennington ware pottery produced in Bennington Vermont during the nineteenth century. Antique cane-cut glass marbles - though some speculate that glass spheres produced ...
Where were cane-cut marbles made?
Antique cane-cut glass marbles - though some speculate that glass spheres produced near ancient Rome were used as marbles, the earliest glass toy marbles were made in Germany in the middle of the nineteenth century.
What is a Bennington marble?
Benningtons are blue or brown glazed marbles that aren't completely round. A Bennington has a circular unglazed spot that results from its touching another marble while still wet with glaze. Bumboozer - a large marble or agate or glass. Cat's Eyes - Clear marbles with different-colored blades or vanes inside.
What is the name of the stone marbles made of agates?
Agates or Aggies - By the middle of the nineteenth century, marbles made of agate had become so popular that the word aggie, a nickname for agate, came to be used for all stone marbles. Many were quarried and ground in Germany and then exported to America and other countries.
Where were commies made?
Beginning around 1840, a factory in Ohio was producing clay marbles at a rate of 100,000 per day. Glazed or unglazed, they were colored in tans, reds, and browns of the clays they were made. The nickname commies originated then with a shortened form or “commoneys” because they were common, every day marbles children used for play.
When was the marbelschere invented?
In 1846, a glassworker in the town of lausche invented the marbelschere, or marble scissors, a tool that rounded a marble in one step. Latticinio core – akes its name from the italian word for “net” and refers to the open network of narrow strands of milky, white glass that appears in the center.
Can you use colored glass ribbons with marble?
Lutzes are the crown jewels of marble collecting and are prized for their beauty and rarity. Colored glass coreless swirls – it was not possible to use colored glass ribbons with a colored glass marble since their interior colors wouldn' t be seen, or if they were visible their colors would be muddy or unclear.
When were glass marbles made?
The beauty of their history. Since these early German handmade glass marbles were made as kid’s toys from 1850 to around the 1st World War. They were not treated as collectibles when made, but were instead thrown together in boxes and shipped in crates transported (without care) on horse-drawn carriages down bumpy roads ...
What is a near mint marble?
A near mint marble will be in collectible used condition with good eye appeal and a strong example of the type but with mild to moderate visible damage from impact play history. These were toys meant to impact one another and few survived in pristine condition. A near mint marble will show a history of use which may include any of the following – chips, nicks, flea bites, dullness from pocket wear, scratches, and internal flaws such as reflections, moons, or minor cracks.
Is marble grading subjective?
Grading is extremely subjective and is not an exact science, therefore you must always use your own assessment when determining your opinion of grade and appeal when assessing a marble. We do our best to use conservative and accurate standards whenever grading or describing a marble, but we’re human too and sometimes miss something, so use your best judgment in determining if a particular marble meets your standards and expectations. Following is the guidelines we try to follow when grading a marble.
Do marbles look better in hand?
Most likely the marble will look better in hand than in the photos. All marbles are photographed to show close up detail. Therefore imperfections will be magnified and even the most minor of flaws will look more obvious on a computer screen than it will in hand.
Brief History of Antique Marbles
How to Identify Antique Marbles
- Differentiating The Old From The New
In the 1800s, marbles were being mass-produced and shipped to locations of high demand. As expected, original and antique marbles were limited in number and thus, expensive — some trading as high as $7,000 – $9,000. As the years advanced, collectors became even more eager … - Types Of Marbles
Antique marbles are found in a large range of designs and types. Some handmade ancient marbles were made from clay and other minerals like alabaster and limestone. The German glass marbles are the most popular types across countries. And, they came in the following styles: 1. …
How to Value Antique Marbles
- Factors affecting value of antique marble
The value of any antique marble is largely based on the condition. Marbles that are dulled, chipped, crapped, or heavily scratched out are less valuable. Other factors that could affect the value are: 1. Size: The smaller the size, the less valuable it is. This is because smaller-sized mar…
Final Thoughts!
- One important thing to note is that antique marbles could have been crafted during the transition period. This period was when marble-making machines were being introduced into the industry. Hence, some antique marbles are machine-made. However, if you have doubts about the piece, it is best to seek professional input.