Posted 13 years ago
Hardbrake
(30 items)
I have always found Marbles to be one of the most intriguing and beautiful pieces of glass. As a kid just about all the marbles were called cats eyes,or pruies. I liked to play Marbles, I just was not good at it and most of the time I lost. Marbles in the last few years are the toys of old people and I fit right in that group. So for the last 30 years I have picked them up one by one or in small groups never more the 5 or 6 at a time. I always look in button cans or tin cans with mixed items in it, just to see if there is a Marble or two some where in the can. Not until about 15 years did I research marbles and a hole new world opened to me. There is several good reference books about marbles and I have one. I have seen Marble collections with each marble displayed separately but that's not me. I just put them in a large glass candy container from before the turn of the century where I can see them when I want. I do not play with them because I know I will lose. I have learned that the German's made a large amount of the marbles imported into the U.S. before the turn of the century. The marble with the small ceramic person or animal inside is called a Sulphides and have a real good market value, sometimes into the thousands. The German Swirls also bring a good amount. One thing matters and that is condition to the serious collector that is but not to me. I have one Sulphide (Crow) and about 8 Swirls as well about 60 other marbles. I like them all the same. This is one thing I learned when at a garage sale, if I see a marble that I want in a button or mixed object tin, I always ask the price for the hole tin. Once I say the word Marble most sellers do not want to lose their marbles. When that happens I always leave disappointed. After answering a question about one of the marbles pictured in this listing, I took some close up pictures of individual marbles that I pulled out of the candy container. Three of the Marbles I have identified but three I could not, that is why I have now asked for help in identifying the unknown marbles. Please see the last picture of the 4. A little help please Hardbrake
Oh one of my favorite things to hardbrake and you have a wonderful Sulphide !!
I love marbles they intrique me and love the colors too. I pick them up when I can and I have found many while tilling soil . Always happy to find a buried one . Wow thanks for sharing your more than beautiful collection of some very nice examples , Love love them !!
Really lovely passion.
Great tip too!
Thanks all three of you and by the way, I was not just kidding when I wrote about not saying anything about the Marbles. I can remember at least 2 time I lost what would have been my marble, by opening my big mouth. As you can tell it's hard for me to keep my mouth shut. Hardbrake
Hi, they're beautiful! May I ask what kind of marble is the one in the first photo - the one that looks clear with thin parallel spirals of cobalt blue, turquoise, white, and pershaps some others. Thank you..
miKKoChristmas, that is a German Swirl and it is well used, I found that at a yard sale. Hardbrake
Too funny Hardbrake! With your luck, I wouldn't either. You've got some real gems there. I especially like the 1800 circa ones (spirals) you have. I have a handful of the sulfide ranging in various sizes. All dug in the Grass Valley area. Thanks for sharing you collection.
Thank you Aqua69
These are AMAZING! Have you thought of writing a book? You are very articulate and inspired me to wax nostaligic for about 10 minutes! That's a yummy feeling. Right up there with a caffeine rush. All is well with the world. :
Thank you for you're much to kind comment and the answer is yes I have given thought to writing a book. I have wanted to produce calenders base on antique for quit a long time. I will post a new show and tell item soon and it will contain a photo that I have been working on for a while, Hardbrake