Alan

A 1988 article in the Washington Post on marble collecting. Seemed a bizarre hobby to me. I went to a bookstore, found a book on marble collecting and the pics hooked me. Boom.

They look right. There were a lot of them available 20+ years ago.

About 20+ years ago, Roger Hardy sold "Opaque Sparklers" that he purchased directly from a former Akro Agate employee who thought them special and took some home. What Roger had for sale of these were all mint since they went from the production floor to the employee's home. I am fairly certain Roger sold these at only one New Philly show and not again. He didn't have all that many.

I believe that both term are misused >95% of the time they appear. A "hybrid" is a cross between two known, defined types of anything. A marble that is a hybrid should have clear qualities of two known marble types that we can actually name. People have become lazy with the term to mean that it has something a little (or a lot) off from a know type. A blob of an unintended color isn't a "hybrid", but using the word "hybrid" seems to lean towards inferring that it is either more rare or desirable (usually with not much appreciation of marble-making). A marble "run" could last as long as the tank did not require rebuilding. A tank and the associated machinery were made to last as long as reasonably possible within the limits of cost. Keep in mind that marble production wasn't a random, experimental process. Manufacturers had a catalog of designs and salesmen that sold to and took specific orders from retailers. Retailers ordered specifically what they wanted and knew sold well - not "Give me whatever you want". Manufacturer Salesman's cases showed what was available and in what sizes, as did their advertisements. Akro could produce yellow and blue corkscrews for years and years - and did. Akro (for example) shipped three full train boxcars at least twice each week - and that doesn't count truck transport. Use of the term "Same run" (I see it more and more) to describe machine mades shows a lack of understanding of vintage marble manufacturing. Whatever design it is was most likely produced for at least a year - probably longer. And they did their best to ensure consistency to the basic design and color, again within cost constraints. Marbles that didn't meet consistency or quality requirements went to the dump sites(and they discarded a LOT of marbles). So how could anyone know that two marbles were made in which week or month? Especially when they were supposed to look the same. 'Mike' running machines #1-3 wasn't given leeway to make whatever he wanted that struck his whimsy. This was a business filling specific orders from retailers and wholesalers. For years. No-one who uses the word "run" could tell you how they know when that "run" was active "End of run" is a bad corruption of "End of cane" from handmade marbles. It doesn't describe anything that anyone can actually name. Hence it isn't helpful or descriptive more than "hybrid".

They aren't collectors. They are thieves.

Broken image links.

They are Mark Matthews Air Trap Sulphides in uranium glass. The figure is 100% air. I have the full "Integers" set (see page 1) and just two letters. He did make a full alphabet but as far as I know there may have only been one or two. Then he made a "Typewriter" set - which I have never seen in person but the photo alone is amazing. Its an exquisite wood cabinet typewriter with one sphere for each letter and number and flat button symbol keys. I have no idea who owns it (possibly Mark himself).

At least 3 of 4 of them are modern. The "7 cm wide" one is made of inexpensive cane out of Italy. I have the same cane in the basement. IMO they aren't worth chasing. Millefiori weights are about the complexity of the cane, complementary colors, precise positioning in the pickup and overall visual harmony. Look at vintage Sandwich Glass weights and you'll see the difference. Caution: Quality vintage paperweights can be quite pricey.

Contemporary Marbles and Related Art Glass by Mark Block https://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Marbles-Related-Schiffer-Collectors/dp/0764311662

I'm going to guess that the white animal figures are either Jim Davis or Andy Davis.

Those pics look like they are scanned from a book (?)

I have gone on the premise that it may be American, possibly Leighton....but I haven't given it much thought. Single gather. I purchased it 20 years ago in Baltimore without any attribution from another dealer who only deals in machine mades and didn't want to carry it. Here is the shear:

Yes - a translucent clear/slightly gray base matrix.

As far as I know, Ro hasn't produced anything since (about) 2013 (other than a corporate commission - which are completely different).

This will give you a glimpse into the time and effort that goes into making the murrini cane - and then how a single piece is created. The effort and precision is quite impressive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pNnAkDVHl0

1" oxbloods:

That is a straight Ro Purser piece. Here are two Noble Efforts I am fortunate to have:

Those have been purchased at shows over the years..

Yeah Buddy, is this one a Ro Purser noble effort Alan ??