richsantaclaus

This is a very important thread J - thanks for posting it!!!

I can obtain the same look on the glass then encase clear (ever so slightly) over those marks to make it look like what your picture shows - it's a very easy technique to do. This is why i never try to reproduce what was done (even though others do) but torch a marble to bring it back as near but not exactly like it was made a long time ago. As Galen says, study and gain experience to easily tell a reproduction verses the "real" thing. Furthermore, I have "retwisted" old swirls at the pontils and onion skins to close the holes but I refuse to recreate original pontils. I have about 190 swirl repairs and 125 onionskin repairs done for collectors. NONE of them will have original looking pontils but they all look like new except for that.

I have a few questions for your consideration: 1. Is the little opening I see at one of the pontils original? It might be because if a person torched that section, there wouldn't be any marks whatsoever because of the heat of the flame melts ALL glass smooth.. 2. Are you sure all the little bubbles didn't come from original seed glass back in the day? I see so many micro-bubbles in your picture it leads me to think seed glass was used in the original making of the marble. 3. The series of scale-like diagonal marks could have been made when the original marble was dragged along a metal surface causing a rapid series of chill marks when it was made. If it were polished, I think the grit (polished) used would have taken them out. I am not convinced that you have studies the effects of torching or polishing a marble to make the conclusions you have drawn. I don't know that much about polishing an old marble, there are others that are more qualified than I am BUT for 24 years I have torched old glass and from the pictures you have presented, I have more questions than answers before I agree that onionskin was torched in MHO.

Wonderful mib!

Nice work - are they made using a glory hole and what is the COE of the glass? (If it is boro work, it is an outstanding job! (I have to add, there aren't many artists that could make that glass sing like you did and I know of one in particular...lol)

Thanks - I appreciate it a lot! I put a bid in on a mobile home but no word yet if the offer was accepted or not. I also put a bid in on an industrial unit too.

I have to admit - I am under a lot of pressure guys. The rental I am in - the landlady sold the house out from under us and I have 30 days to get out after Escrow closes. I have to see 3 different doctors about 3 different issues - 1. a piece of glass in my finger, 2. a cyst on my arm and 3. the meds for the RLS have ceased working so I have to see a specialist. My Virgo run was all about reactive glass verses non-reactive glass which is totally different than striking glass. I hope this post helps!

Cute clown!

Thanks! I have the other 2 marbles (a swirl and an onionskin) in the kiln annealing right now. They weren't damaged as much as this one was.

ok, but it wasn't me who mentioned the specific people.... it's all good Scott!

Hi Scott - gotta love ya! How do you conclude you were one of "the few people" because there are several to choose from and I thought you knew you were not on THAT kind of list with me? Marble On!

Thank you Ronnie. I try to impart learning whenever I can but a few people we jointly know are of the attitude they they know everything about everything and what they say is the law. I am always trying to move forward and learn more. I really was blow away that this swirl was repairable. I've said it over and over again, "The glass will do what IT wants to do!" All I can do is work with what the glass will allow me to work with.

Thank you Ronnie - I just love being retired! 37 years of teaching was rewarding but it is time to play now!

If you go to http://www.nwf.org/PhotoContest/[email protected] you can see the 15 pictures I submitted to a photo contest. Thanks Rich

Thanks everyone - I still don't believe it even though I hold it in my hands!

It finished at about 2 1/4"

last pix

After 1 1/2 hours behind the torch with this thing, here are the results. I am totally amazed that I was able to get it to look like this.

Here is what popped off the marble in a few places when I put it into the torch's heat.

I was handed this to repair. Yeah, I thought the person was crazy too but....

I might make it - maybe...lol

The seventh annual Orange County Marble Show in Southern California!!! Antique and Contemporary Art Glass Marbles March 16, 2013 At the Howard Johnson Hotel 222 W. Houston Ave. Fullerton, Ca. 92832 For room reservations, Call… Phone – (714) 992-1700 Open from 9:00 to 3:00 on Saturday, March 16, 2013 NO admission fee and parking is free too! For more information, contact Rich Shelby [email protected] 951 212 4435 The Center Ballroom will be the location of the 43 vendor tables on the bottom floor. I encourage you to contact your friends and ask them to stop at the show and check things out. If you help me spread the word about the marble show it would much be appreciated. Thank you!!! Rich

Galen - do you know kind of glass are they using these days to make the marbles to make you think they are fakes? I don't know of a Bulgarian glass making plant.

I am pretty sure it is old glass because I've seen several in that shape before. Also, the color streaks lay over the inner white base are like some of the same colors from the older marbles in my opinion. Of course, it is an opinion!

Wow stuff!!!!!