Tinyplanets

Here are 20 for $17 shipped on ebay. I search under sphere stands

The little dish is a sphere stand commonly used with larger crystal/mineral spheres. They can easily be purchased and are a light glazed wood.

So these have actual texture I can see and feel. Oddballs with definite indented fold, hope that makes sense as they are not easy to photograph. 2nd pic opposite side is smooth and typical of a marble. Can fit my finger nail into crevice amongst the lavender whereas the goldy orange one has layers like pulled taffy. Interesting weird ones...

COOL I thought Ruby Bee based on learning from You Tube video!!!

Some big kids, guessing the swirl is contemporary handmade. The little one sure shows all that glitters throughout the bands of color! Ideas?

Still learning what constitutes a Popeye or a Tigereye or any of the swirl variety names. Thinking of the various company characteristics too...anyone ever make ID flow charts? 😂 First are swirl shooters - Jabo?, then a pair of blue and brown kinda patches, and finally the translucent beauties at three perspectives.

Digital Calipers recommendation?

I paint miniatures with my head magnifiers and thought those would help too! Thank you for links.

Any recommendations on needed items beyond basic storage and cleaning items? Jeweler’s loupe to study Black light to check for fluorescence/UV reactivity small flashlight for backlighting Digital calipers for measuring Varying types of stands and displays What are some of your Favorites?

Aww thank you! I noticed the cross through cats eyes too (blue and yellow) and am really starting to *see* as I sort. Folks here, books, and videos are helping me and it warms my heart to know they can still be found “in the wild”!

I’m learning as I go, but picked up this lil bunch today, and at least identified a banana and a flame!

But seeing there are all things glass here! This looks to be handmade and pretty cool. Top has no pontil, smooth and rounded. Are there many “fails” like that? Guessing it was intentional.

Cool! These little nuances are so interestIng to learn and discover. Every little orb is a new mystery to unravel!

Some less plump than others...one looks like lips!

Thank you! I am really loving going through some old groups and also looking through the many photos on here to learn. I’ve only cleaned with gentle soap and water and looked at mibs with a loupe. Are the hard cases with egg foam best for keeping them safe and separated?

Okay, so I am starting to understand seams and patterns and nomenclature for all the various IDs...lots to look for, not as simple as hey these colors = bumblebee or Superman. Patches and corkscrews and helmets oh my. Still, amazing how you will all just glance at these grouping and KNOW the pattern, name/make/model, and possibly manufacturer and dates/era. It takes time to develop all that knowledge and experience... I can see where it is fun but can be frustrating. I will do some reading up and go through galleries to better see...

Thank you both! I am mesmerized by a German handmades and the old clays but really go for whatever appeals in terms of machine mades. All the companies and terminology - I know it can take a lifetime to learn and curate collections. I come from some other hobbies that have lifelong learning and ahem, accumulation, upgrading, acquisition... marbles have always just fascinated me despite my lack of knowledge. Looking forward to figuring it all out!

SO many questions as I learn...Steph’s seam tutorial is interesting. I am acquiring books and looking at pics online. Also want to learn about cleaning and marble storage/transport/display. No idea if this is Modern Asian or identifiable as something else, but we all start somewhere, right?!? Not the best pics, but curiouser and curiouser...