Alan

Yes.

Looks right in those pics.

It is Ravenswood.

Variations in glass color are far more likely to be caused by changes in the amount of colorant, furnace temperature, weather (barometric pressure), degree of striking and a host of other factors. Keep in midn that amrble-making wasn't a precision business - despite collector's sometimes thiunking that it was. Batch and colorant were literally SHOVELED into the furnace. Keep in mind that Akro was shipping multiple train boxcar loads of marbles twice a week. Akro wasn't a short-run, small pot factory. The digs at Akro show us the variations that come from starts and ends of batches and all manner of problems. Small variations in colors are just that - variations.

And my favorite:

Some cullet:

Standing by.

An excellent thread. Big props to you for taking the time to make it.

Could it? Sure. Given how cane marbles are made - it up to the maker how far to draw out the cane - or not..... and how large to make the starting diameter. Of course larger pieces mean that you have far fewer pieces. Keep in mind that a shop would be turning out a LOT of canes - and its hard to say that they were unique. You could easily have a shop turn out20 of the same cane design in the same day. It actually makes sense that they would - because canes require that you pull stringers and components in advance. Its a waste of time to make stringers for just one or two canes. So favorite design must have been common. Large same-canes do pop up from time. Yars ago at the Maine show there were FIVE 2+ inch same canes for sale as a set.

There are 3" and larger onionskins. Not common - but not unknown either.

For folks that have done this show before - is it mostly dishes over marbles?

I wonder how he manages to get through doorways with an inflated head like that. How sad.

Antique - and not polished.

They sell for more because Mark is a respected artist with a well-known, well-respected reputation for his own designs, innovation and excellent execution. People have been willing to pay premium prices for premium work.... and for a long time. I own plenty of his work - and will buy more.

It looks like the result of a blind man trying to repair old marbles on a torch. Talk about over-cooked......

A potential buyer has no point of reference whether the machine "works".... or how well. It has no history. How would it be fed? IMO - it will not sell for a fraction of that amount.

I'd (personally) probably refer to it more as a "sphere" - but marbles are made from a number of materials other than glass. I think its an interesting piece - given the care that went into shapng it.

Unsigned - the piece is generally unremarkable... without any specific stye that would point to a specific artist or artists.

Both pontils look fire polished to me - one seems to be sort of hastily done and uneven. I'm not sure the piece is round at the pontil (second in left column).

From my years of collecting handmades: 1. The frit colors are inconsistent with antique methods 2. The clear glass appears a bit too clear/bright. 3. The frit method is inconsistent with antique methods 4. The pontil show in the second photo right is not consistent with vintage methods And from a qualitative standpoint - the piece just looks wrong in almost all respects. For me - it isn't even close to an antique piece. Plenty of these types made by volume producers to sell in gift shops today for $25 retail. There is a gift shop near the Pentagon that has an entire window of these.