Ric

Some Ravenswood color . . .

Thanks, Dave. I am sorry to say I will not be able to attend the Des Moines show this year.

Excellent, Alan. thank you very much. I appreciate the time you took to post this. The Stankard pieces are amazing - the detail is just incredible. So just one more quick question and I promise I'll leave you alone (at least for a while). Would the method used to make German sulfide marbles also be considered a "torch paperweight technique"? My guess is "yes".

I have had Menudo and while it wasn't my favorite thing, it was far from the worst. I am not picky about food, in general, but there are two things I've tried that I would not allow within one foot of my lips again: 1) Swedish Lutefisk 2) Chinese Century Egg I do understand that some people enjoy these things but the texture and taste of each induced an immediate gag reflex for me. It's hard for me to even imagine that some person tried these things for the first time, either purposefully or accidentally, and then thought, "MMMmmm, I would really like more of that". I can only believe that they were literally starving. I shudder just thinking about it.

I appreciate this comment Alan. You should know that I am essentially clueless when it comes to the actual techniques used to make such objects. Would you please elaborate a little on the "torch paperweight technique"? I imagine it would be used to produce the grass and tree? Just a little more explanation would be very helpful. One of the things that I find pretty amazing is how the "sulfide" birds are positioned on the branches. I imagine the tree was produced when they were placing the birds, perhaps by using an orange glass rod to push them into the clear gob - sort of like the figures in Germans were placed using a metal rod? I really have no idea how this was done, any thoughts you could provide would really be appreciated.

Hey Dave! I hope all is well. It's good to see you here! Nice marbles, as usual, I really like the raspberry color on that first one!

I have seen Chinese "Birds in Fire Tree" sulfide figures in glass objects of various shapes that were probably made as paperweights or aquarium ornaments. I have also seen "marbles" that had been made by cutting and grinding those objects into spheres. In addition, I have seen some spheres that I think may have actually been produced as marbles, since they have no flat spot and show a pontil much like a typical German sulfide. Although, I suppose they too could have been shaped from a much more common paperweight/aquarium piece by a skilled glass worker. Here are examples of what I am referring to. This sphere was most certainly ground from another object. I have only seen one sphere with a pontil for sale in the past 25 years or so and I am still mad at myself for not purchasing it.

I guess it's true . . . "every squirrel finds a nut".

I think this is what I used to know as a Hermaphrodite (from Old Rare Marbles) but I could be wrong. I think the name has fallen out of favor though and I have no idea what they call them now. ORM refers to this one as a "Rare Dragonfly-Girl Scout-Cub Scout Marble King Hybrid"

I think the original Hermaphrodites would have a patch of blue or green too. This may be a newer version though.

I think those on a transparent bubbly UV reactive base are fairly HTF but I'm not much of a Pelt guy so . . . ?

I think it might be a very nice albeit unusual TriLite - the colors look Vitro to me.

Here's a sign from CDOT. It does seem counterintuitive but the evidence says it is safer and it improves traffic flow. It seems to be the new trend in construction zones. https://www.codot.gov/travel/zippermerge "In a Zipper Merge, please be respectful of those who wait to merge until just before the lane ends; they are doing it correctly."

@William Nice ones, I'm digging the 5th one - I like that "golden yellow" base color. It's different and not so easy to find in my experience.

You can tell they're not Master Glass production, that's for sure. George S. believes the box is from the mid 1930s.

When I see marbles that are spun like this one, I keep them, regardless. They're just cool.

Wow, I just saw this post after singling the marble out in your Peltier Tuesday Tuesday post. It's even better than I first thought - stellar example!

In Michigan last summer, there was a big public service campaign to get people to stop merging into the open lane before the construction barrier. It turns out that it is much safer and more efficient to use both lanes and then "zipper merge" once you reach the barrier, especially when traffic is heavy and backed-up.

You make a good point - the thought crossed my mind too. I'm just not really seeing oxblood. If it is oxblood, it probably is a Milky.

It's a nice Alley Agate, IMO. Nice size!

@William Glad you like it - it's different, for sure. Here are just a few Rainbos - the horsehair is kinda cool.

Nice Bloodies, Art. Do you have a box of them?

I am pretty sure this is Pelt but it's gnarly enough as made that it might be Kokomo. If I were King it would be a "Pine Needle", but I'm not, so it isn't.

That Pearlized Patch and the one next to it are especially nice! Wow, that's a sweet Fruit Cocktail, Dave!

I said it because I don't think your marbles are hand-gathered and I qualified my opinion by stating that I couldn't watch the videos. And I assumed you were looking for help. It means nothing to me if your marbles are unidentified. I am sorry that I offended you, and I promise it won't happen again.