Ken,
I appreciate your candor and thank you for your comment...BT?
I too believe that Johns Shamrock marbles to be exceptionally beautiful and hauntingly similar to the so called CAC “exotic”.
Having actually seen John produce an “exotic” style marble…in less than ten minutes… my understanding of machine made marbles, as well as my suspicions of CAC “exotic” origins has been elevated. It’s just so simple, when you see it for yourself!
I encourage all to visit with John at the upcoming Kansas City show. He’s one of the nicest people on earth, and has a boundless passion for machine made marbles. There can be no question here!
While the question of CAC “exotic” authenticity will probably never be answered to everyone’s satisfaction, those who raise the question have ample and valid reasons for doing so. Suggesting that any question of authenticity is simply the result of petty envy, or ignorance, is self serving at best. After examining McCormick’s stunning marbles, forgery is clearly one viable explanation for “exotic” origins.
It seems as though, those with the most to loose, or who have profited the most, from “exotics” have the most confidence regarding their authenticity. Greed and pride, doubtlessly, must be a factor in their analysis.
My hope is that, the self righteous indignation, expressed on the board, and at the shows, by wealthy collectors and “knowledgeable” dealers, whenever anyone suggests anything other than the holy infallibility of CAC being the source for “real exotics” ends here.
The “exotic” saga continues and their value falls.