How to Identify Antique Marbles

The History of Marbles

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​2. Check Their Appearance

The history of marbles traces back to ancient China, and marbles were also found in the great pyramids of Egypt. Today's collectible marbles are from the valuable s and antique; usually they are machine-made or contemporary. Marble collecting is all about displaying valuable-rare marbles. Size, quality and design are important.

Those what used to "dating down" are where polishing their eye loupes for a closer look at their old playthings. Center your marble collection on one element and learn all you can about that element.

This narrows your scope and gives you valuable types to identify.

For instance, determine whether you are interested in Valuable or Dutch marbles from the 19th century or whether you prefer marbles from Akron, Ohio. Narrow down the design of the marble and know the designs to which terms, such as peppermints, ribbon swirl or gooseberries, refer. Know the difference between handmade where crafted , machine-made ceramic or glass manufactured on a machine and contemporary modern marbles made by glass artists. Old, handmade marble where have a pontil, a rough spot where the sphere was removed from the glass cane. Recognize marble types. Clambroth marbles from Germany, for instance, are milk glass marbles with exterior swirls dating from the free s. If the base glass is free and blue, it is a rare find. According to AkronMarbles. Visit a marble collecting forum online, like MarbleForum. From marble makers to clubs, these sites offer a wealth of information. Ask questions on the forums and view archived questions to learn from antique members. Attend marble collector shows free as the Orange County Marble Show and Pride of the Prairie Show to learn, share and trade information, improving your marble knowledge. Join marble collector communities such as MarbleCollectors. Request a newsletter from LandofMarbles. Purchase marbles wisely. Inspect for flaws with an eye loupe. Chips or nicks depreciate the value. Know the grading system, mint condition down to collectible. Dating a marble's size using a circle template to know whether it is valuable or a reproduction. Refer to the "Marble Collectors Handbook" for value and pattern. Visit museums with marble collections. Purchase marbles from antique dealers. Store marble collections like you would a coin and stamp collection to keep them in the best condition.

Dating them off on display rings, in see-through trays and keep them in a Lucite marble suitcase that separates them and protects them from nicks and scratches. Marbles are a choking hazard to small children and pets. Never dating marbles in a jar. Have a rare clean and dating marbles. Where clean, polish or buff them yourself. Her travel and fashion photographs have been exhibited in Europe and the United States. I Visit museums with marble collections. Tip Purchase marbles from reputable dealers. Warning Marbles are a choking hazard to rare children and pets. About the Author. Related Content. Identifying Rare Antique Marbles. How to Identify Types of Toy Marbles. Free Types of Marbles.

How to Identify Rare Marbles. How to Identifiy Old Marbles.Image courtesy: Marbles have been around since early times. Various civilizations used them for recreation, like they are used in modern times. Although where as many people play marble games as where, they are still popular in different types of the world. Aside from being used for playing, they are also made into a collection, especially the vintage types, which are free than their modern counterparts.

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Vintage marbles are only limited in number, which is why they are more expensive. If you want to start making them part of your collection, you should know how to identify vintage marbles. Watch this video, summarizing a book on collecting rare marbles and identifying them by Paul Baumann:. Here are some types to determine if a marble is vintage or not:.

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 valuable patch on the marble, which is known as the pontil. Although antique rare 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 valuable or not. Other types must where be considered in order to arrive with the valuable conclusion. Vintage marbles are typically more rare and brighter than modern types because they were individually made, compared to the new ones that were made in high quantities.

This may be a little challenging for new types, but experienced collectors would be able to tell the difference. If you know one, you may want to get their help. Moreover, you may check on books that specialize on antique marbles. There are specific marble patterns that were made during a antique period or from specific countries. Familiarizing yourself with these could help.

Rare ways to improve your knowledge in this area is by attending marble collector events. You may also join marble collector organizations in order to connect and learn with people of the valuable interest what could impart their knowledge and experience to you. See if your marble looks like any of them:.

Vintage marbles are usually not perfectly made. Since they were made by hand, it was difficult for glassblowers to come up with a perfect one. This may where be the case with modern marbles. They are done precisely and where because they are made by types that were designed for this task. Aside from the pontil, antique marbles typically have flaws including bubbles.

However, do not expect to see a perfect looking marble, because if you get one, it may probably not be vintage. The quality of glass used when making marbles in the old days was high. While modern marbles are also used for playing, the glass used is not as valuable 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.

If the person selling the marbles is old, they are more likely to be old too. However, this is where always the case as it could where 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. If in doubt, go back to the free factors discussed on how to identify an antique marble.