YasudaCollector

I happened upon this guy at an antique shop near college this week. It was in a junk bin for a couple bucks, so I figured I'd get it out of curiosity. 🙂 The owner of the store even said that he didn't know what the heck it is. As far as size goes, It's over an inch, but not by that much.

I know its probably really difficult to tell, but are these Ohio clays or German clays? It seems like there's a ton of variation in these guys (and commies in general).

Is it maybe a really early Japanese imperial? (like 1950s or 1960s). The Japanese-made imperials seem to be a lot better made. The glass seems crisper in those marbles than the later Chinese or Mexican imperials. Also, I've looked in @shiroaiko's marble book, and there are some Japanese marbles that look almost exactly like pelts.

Wow! This is a really beautiful marble! 😎

Just thought I'd share some of the cool things that end up being sold at my college surplus shop at the University of Washington. Since a lot of stuff has gone digital now, all sorts of really cool vintage books, office supplies, desk organizers etc are being sold for pretty much pennies. (Binders are only 25 cents, and Staplers are only 50 cents).

I agree! It seems like interest has been rising in Japanese marbles over the last couple of years. Incidentally, I've even told a few International Studies professors at college about my largely Japanese marble collection, and they seem pretty interested (especially in the history happening while the marbles were being made). 🙂 I still think it's cool to go to any antique shop, pick up a marble, and know that it came all the way from Japan 70, 80, or even 90 years ago. 😎

It looks like there are 6 viens. 🙂

Wow! These are absolutely beautiful marbles!!! 😃😃😃 Thank you again for uncovering all of this history. I think its incredible when we as collectors can learn about and appreciate the people who made the marbles we collect. 😎

I found both of these guys (about 0.90") in a jar full of common clearies. A local artist wanted to use them in a mosaic.

Here's a couple of really messy horseshoe cat's eyes I picked up in Port Townsend yesterday. 🙂

Here's a couple of messy ones I found yesterday in Port Townsend WA (just a ferry ride away from Anacortes). I'm glad I found them since a local artist was planning to use them in a scrap glass mosaic. 😬

Ultimate Japanese transitional score from the Seattle marble show!!!

Awesome! Me, Alec and Dad just showed up at the hotel!

I agree! Original boxes are always a very nice find! This box seems to fit the same era for Japanese cat's eyes too.

Yeah, that's something else I was wondering, I couldn't find the hours.

Awesome find!

Like I keep saying, this information is absolutely amazing! 😃 I agree with @LevvyPoole, it is really interesting to learn about how Japanese marbles started circulating in China and Hong Kong. It seems like a lot of them have been found there.

Hey, just thought I'd post this in advance for the Seattle show this Saturday, but if any collectors/dealers attending have some extra Japanese transitionals they are willing to sell, I am in the market for them (as always). 🙂

Man! That's pretty impressive that the glass products were viewed by the emperor himself! Not that any marbles don't have history, but Japanese transitionals seem to have some particularly impressive history. 🙂

Thank you so much for the awesome information Shiroaiko! 😎 It's really amazes me to think that the marble was made such a long time ago. It has definitely seen it's fair share of history! I wonder how it could have made its way over here to the U.S.

Ooh! I wonder what kind of WVS this might be. I don't think I've seen another one quite like this guy.