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Ad Rates / Articles / Classified Ads / Editorial / Home / Links / Showtime   Marbles come in all sizes and colours - Part 2    List Bob DeFreitas Next   Have you lost your marbles again? By Bob DeFreitas In the Sept/Oct 2009 issue of the Wayback Times, I wrote an article entitled “Have You Lost Your Marbles?” describing, in a general sense, the collectability of various types of toy marbles produced between the early 1800s and the current day.   Response/feedback to the article was quite positive and those who e-mailed me personally wanted to know more about each of the four general categories/types of marbles that I touched on briefly in this issue.   To cover all four categories in a single issue would require considerable space, so I will be writing a series of follow-up articles for the Wayback Times, starting with certain types of antique hand-made glass marbles, circa 1840 to 1930s.   It is common belief that the vast majority of antique hand-made glass marbles, regardless of type, were made in Lauscha, Thuringen, Germany. There is, however, evidence indicating that some specific varieties of hand-made glass marbles were produced in both England and the United States during the latter part of the 19th century and up to the advent of World War ll.   There are about 25 different varieties of antique hand-made glass marbles and more than half are transparent, clear glass type swirls with different colours and styles of cores, with some having no core at all and only surface decorations. Other types of glass marbles were made with either an opaque or translucent glass base with most, if not all, the decoration on the surface of the marble.   The latter types were made with a much softer type of glass, and are more rare than the transparent clear glass types, and such, are also much more difficult to find in Mint condition. (These types, and certain others, will be covered in future articles.)   Antique hand-made glass marble varieties referred to above, include: Lattacinio Swirls, Divided Cores, Solid Cores, Ribbon Cores, Ribbon/Banded/Opaque Lutzes, Josephs Coats, Banded/Coreless Swirls, Peppermint Swirls, Caramel/Custard/Butterscotch Swirls, Gooseberry Swirls, Mist Swirls, Mica Swirls, Indian Swirls, Clambroths, Banded Opaques, Onionskins (End of Day and Cloud varieties ), Solid Opaques (Melonballs ), Clearies and Sulphides.   You may already be familiar with some types, while others may be new to you. Using brief descriptions and some photographs, I will try to assist you in identifying most types of marbles mentioned and give you some perspective on relative values in today’s marketplace.   True current market values are what one person is willing to pay another for a particular item or items and is usually good for a maximum of 90 days given the state of today’s economy, particularly when it comes to antiques and collectibles.   The values I use when preparing articles are based on my personal experiences through Internet sales, private acquisition, auction, antique shows and prices realized at major marble shows in the United States. I also assume that the marble is Mint and the price range covers the 1/2” to 2” diameter sizes (ex. $5 = ½” to $200 = 2” in diameter ). Marbles over 2”, of course, have a higher value.   The definition of “Mint” is original condition. The surface is unmarked, undamaged and has not been buffed or polished. It may have minor rubbing on the surface from handling over the years, however, the marble is just the same as when it came from the factory or glasshouse where it was made.   Let’s look at a few of the more readily identifiable types you are more likely to come across in Canada and particularly in collections and auctions in Ontario. We will start with what is probably the most commonly collected type of antique glass marble in Ontario - the clear glass sulphide marble (left).   Unlike all other handmade glass marbles, the process for making a sulphide marble consists of fusing two disparate substances (glass and clay) together in a manner that the encrustation of the sulphide (clay) figure is perfectly visible from the outside of the marble.   All sulphide marbles will have a single visible pontil (either rough or faceted), usually below the base of the figure, and, subtle cold roll or wavy lines on the surface is generally an indication the marble has not been buffed or polished and is in its original state.   There are nine categories of sulphide marble and these include, in somewhat the order of value, 1 - Domestic animals; 2 - Farm animals; 3 - Wild animals; 4 - Aquatic animals; 5 - Birds and fowl; 6 - Human figures; 7 - Mythical or allegorical Figures; 8 - Religious figures and 9 - Inanimate objects, such as numbers.   Within these categories there are over 400 different subject figures. Those in coloured glass, or, have two or more figures, or, have painted figures, have a much higher value, with a multiplier of between 2X to 10X.   Most sulphide marbles have an average value of between $80 and $200, while some of the less common subjects will command prices in the $250 to $1,200 range. Also, unlike other types of glass marbles which were made in the ½” size (primarily for marble games such as Solitaire ), the smallest sulphide marbles made were 3/4” in diameter.   Sulphides under 1” are not common and command a slightly higher premium than the minimums mentioned above.   The vast majority of swirl type marbles, in addition to their core type, will also have a simple outer decoration on the surface of the marble (usually a series of thin ribbons).   Marbles with no outer decoration are referred to as a "naked variety" and most command a premium. The majority of handmade antique glass marbles have two pontils, one at each pole. (There are some varieties with only one pontil, however, none are covered in this article.)   The top pontil is either rough or faceted and the bottom pontil may also be rough, however, they are generally melted. Faceted pontils date the marbles to between 1840 and 1860, while rough pontils date the marbles to between 1860 and the 1930s.   The most common, and therefore the most often seen swirl marble, is the lattacinio core swirl (left). These inner cores consist of thin strands/ribbons of glass that run from pole to pole in the center of the marble. Some have twisted ribbons to form a netting effect and produce a much more attractive marble.   The most common colour is white, followed by yellow, orange, green, red and blue, in this order, with blue being the most difficult to find and therefore the most expensive to purchase.   There are also lattacinios with two alternating colours of ribbon ( i.e. white and yellow ) and the value is determined by the least common colour ribbon. A white lattacinio swirl will have a value between $7 and $150, while a blue example will bring at least 10X these values.   Next is the divided core swirl (right). In addition to the outer decoration, they will have a core consisting of three to four thin to wide coloured bands. These bands can be solid colours, but, are more often than not a multitude of colours. Divided core swirls with five or six bands are less common and command a premium.   Common divided core swirls have an average value of $10 to $175.   In the next article, we’ll have a look at antique hand-made glass marbles as well as start to cover the three other categories of collectible marbles.   Bob DeFreitas is a certified CPPA (Canadian Personal Property Appraiser) who specializes in antique hand-made and vintage machine-made marbles. He resides in Bowmanville, Ontario, and travels extensively through Ontario and the United States buying and selling collectible marbles. Bob is attempting to start a Canadian Marble Collectors’ Club. If interested, call Bob at 905-697-9739, or e-mail him at robert.defreitas@sympatico.ca.     Return to top of page   This Is Livin' Publishing © 2009 581 8th Line West, RR1 Hastings, ON, K0L 1Y0 Phone/Fax: 705-696-1833   webmaster