Alan

Here is what vaseline (lemonade) and limeade glass look like in their raw state. This is Akro cullet photographed in sunlight only. (Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

I agree - a Stankard is a piece that REALLY benefits from high resolution. I think they are quite difficult to truly appreciate without studying it closely in person. The Stankards have an amazing gift.

Sue: I absolutely agree. Here is the future owner of my collection passing time with Bert:

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

The funny thing about contemporaries is that they are very diverse and one person's "got to have it" is another person's <yawn>. IMO many contemps can be trickier to photograph - as many have a lot of depth to them. I started collecting contemporaries after about a decade a collecting vintage (in addition to, not instead of). I found that moreso than vintage - it helps to actually to actually hold it in the hand to really appreciate the skill that went into making it. The diversity of design and execution is so broad as to almost defy description and artists are constantly coming up with radical new design concepts. Some contemporaries require huge investments in time to prepare, craft and finish them. Ask a contemporary artist how much time goes into a specific piece and you will often be amazed. Like vintage it is a "buy what you like" emphasis.

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

To orient everyone - the star-shaped cuts in the graphite cup were made to "catch" the streams of glass and help it to start spinng in the same direction as the cup. Otherwise the "cork" pattern would not exist. IIRC - my cups have deeper ridges. These were hand carved by the factory workers.

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

Sharing some of that experience.... here are a few photos of the Akro Agate site several years ago: (Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

Keep in mind that the number of colors in a specific marble does not have to be limited by the number of nozzles. When they changed colors they did not stop the machine and certainly didn't change the color tanks. I have several Akro machine parts and I can tell you that it is obvious that a lot of different runs were made one right after the other. Funnels etc looked like the 7 cities of Troy - with colors runs layered one on top of the other. If a piece was produced as one run was ending and another was starting - all kinds of wierd colors are possible. This is also obvious to those who have frequented the Akro plant digs. A LOT of marbles that were not the exact color that they wanted, blends and start/end of runs were discarded by the bucket. I believe that many of these pieces with more colors than usual just missed the trash bucket. Not saying they aren't attractive - its just not what the factory intended to produce.

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

Another small group (Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this ID content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)

With surface scratches no less. Whatever the bidders were thinking - I'll never know.

What aspect of it is "experimental"?

(Unfortunately, I have chosen to remove this content due to unchecked behaviors by others on this board. My apologies to those who will not benefit from it in the future.)