Rooneydog

Yes different sides, the "seam" in pic 1 is seamless so to speak compared to the seam in pic 4 which can be seen as an indentation towards the top right of pic 4, so forgive my ignorance.

Attached pics rotated clockwise - the seam can be seen on pic 4

Will do this evening, unfortunately at work

Oops sorry folks pics 3,4 & 7 are the same side (doh) which is the side opposite the seam, the seam goes from the edge of the dark to the centre hence the only thing I can see opposite the seam is in pic 6 as the dark part is not half of the marble, hope that makes sense.

The only thing I can see is on pic 6 above.

Barely non existent, maybe a pin prick ?

Thanks for replies, do not know if this is miles away but how about Vacor (it's the only one I found that mentioned orange peel)

About 5/8 th's The pontil appears to be a single line from the centre of the last picture to near the pole of the dark bit.

Thanks for looking. Even though I got this as part of a job lot mainly Antique handmades it is my favourite of the bunch, it reminds me of an eyeball but I have no idea who made it. Very difficult to photograph so apologies for the pics.

Thanks hdesousa, I was using the volume displacement method for the very reason that the marbles are not spherical with the diameter just being used as a reference size.

A density measurement is the only way to compare as far as I can see. Drop the marble in a measuring tube of water and see what the volume is, weigh on some accurate jewellery scales and calculate density g/cm3. Use a mm gauge to obtain the diameter and produce a table of results. I know the volume will be slightly different for same diameter marbles due to how spherical the marble is but a mean could me obtained for each "type" of marble. Just musing.

The rough pontil is directly opposite the spider pontil The rough pontil only appears to have a small bit of white on it and this is very rough and on the outside, as can be seen in the first pics. The marble is basically clear at the rough end, the white swirl gets nowhere near it. Hope this makes sense

Thanks Ann - sorry to be obtuse but is this a cane cut slag ? hence 2 pontils

Ok so for this beginner this is a handmade Japanese slag (not a transitional) drawn of a cane ? of a very unusual colour ?

From the 1st set of pictures the 2nd and 4th are the same pole.

Given my very limited and new knowledge I would say yes A spider (Japanese) style on 1 pole and a regular handmade on the other ?

Thanks for all responses. More pics. Size is slightly less than 3/4 (18mm) As for the colour probably yellow green of some sort.

Having just read this "The first marbles produced in Germany were single pontil slag type that are now referred to as Transitionals. A gob was gathered from a tank that contained a mixture of glass, and then sheared off the punty using Greiner’s marble scissors. This began in about 1850. Many have Regular or Ground Pontils and are black, or dark green, with white. It is generally accepted that “Leighton” Transitionals were produced in Germany. Virtually all “Leighton” Transitionals have come through England, which was the main destination of export from Germany." Early German ? just saying as I have no idea

I didn't want to say that because I have been wrong every time so far

Thanks for looking. Am I correct and if so any idea on the maker ?

Thanks again. I need to look at more photos.

After hours of looking I think Christensen - all corrections etc gratefully received.

Excellent photos - thanks Alan

Thanks for explaining cheese

Thanks for the reply. So you are saying the pontils have been ground and polished (at one end) and it is common for the swirls to cease before the end ? also to have a band that splits between 1 and 2 parts when it really should be 4 to match the rest of the marble, poor workmanship ?