Antique marbles have more vibrant and attractive colors than their modern counterparts. This is especially attributed to the fact that each one was individually made with care and precise concentration; unlike the modern ones that were made in high quantities. Pro Tip: If it looks like the color seems to have been applied over the glass base surface, the marble is modern. This might be tough to place if you are a new collector, but experts can tell the difference quickly.
You can get the help of one to check the marble for authenticity. In addition, these antique marbles have patterns that tell you what period they were made in, and sometimes their country of manufacture. You can familiarize yourself with books on the topic to help you with the identification.
Visit marble museums and pay close attention to their collections. This will assist you in clearly recognizing how an antique marble looks.
Another way to get familiar with the appearance of marbles is to join collectors organizations or attend collectors events. Here, you get to share knowledge and experience with people of similar interests. This is perhaps one of the fastest ways to differentiate an original from a fake. Rare and antique designs have small figures of animals or people at the center.
Since antique marbles were used in games in the old days, the quality of glass that was used was high and harder to break or crack. Modern-day marbles were produced with lower-quality glass since demand superseded purpose. They were cheaper and can shatter easily.
Antique marbles were handmade, so it was difficult to achieve a perfect design. Asides from the pontil, they also have flaws like marks that could indicate age and bubbles. This rare 4-panel onionskin type with suspended bits of mica was a top-selling marble in the Morphy Auction, March sale. White solid core with dark maroon bands.
Original surface. Lot of 25, possibly made by Akro Agate Company. Includes two Solitaire boards and one standard marble game. One of the Solitaire marble boards comes with common, solid opaque marbles and other comes in original box with no marbles. Lot includes approximately 56 marbles. Source: Morphy's Auctions. Marbles are part of a wide variety Lots of toys, trains, die-cast vehicles and figures that was auctioned Live on eBay October 26, This is from a sampling of items that were auctioned by Apple Tree Auction Center.
Prices shown are the completed auctions, along with the price estimates from the auction house. It also looks slightly different when viewed from above — such variances in appearance can make a marble more desirable. It was also listed in mint condition. Given that some of the other most expensive marbles have sold for higher prices in worse condition, whoever nabbed this marble got a great deal!
With this marble, the onionskin pattern is blended with mica speckles. Mica is a thin, silicon-like mineral that is sometimes used to accent different marbles. Cheaper marbles often mimic patterns of mica specks, but authentic mica has a distinctive luster.
Although the desig n on this marble may seem a bit weathered from the photo, sulfide marbles actually look quite brilliant in person. Painted sulfide marbles are quite rare — most vintage marbles are made from agate, granite, or glass.
The sulfide figure within the marble is painted is the main reason it sold at the price it did, as figures within these marbles are typically monochromatic. Like the sulfide figure marble, this marble sold for a price due to its craftsmanship. Pontil marbles are also known as transitional marbles, as the particular production technique associated with them was invented during a time when marble production was shifting from handmade to automated. Find two similar marbles that seem to be different.
Hold each up to a light with a 30X magnifier glass. Compare size. Many smaller marbles were manufactured specifically for use in games and are still being produced today. Compare coloring. Antique marbles are brighter because they were made with better materials. Machine-made marbles are duller. Compare quality of glass. Antique marbles are made from high quality glass, whereas machine made marbles are lower quality glass and shatter easily. Once the above inspections and comparisons are made, it should be more obvious that some of the marbles are newer.
Separate those and continue. Begin to look for subtler nuances between marbles.
0コメント