JVVmarbles Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 I wanted to show you all my oldest glass marble, a Roman marble dating from the 2nd-3rd century AD. Found in Holland at a Roman site. The marble is 1-5/16" in size and has an aquamarine base. On the surface is a 'flower' made with white and dark blue glass paste. It's not perfectly round, but it can still roll. Does any of you have more information about this marble? Maybe you've seen one before? I'd love to know more about it! And a question to the marble makers among you...how was it made? Here are some pics (I've made it wet wih water): and 3 pics of how it actually looks, with a lot irridization from being in the ground so long: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn691500 Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 thats amazing, wow,, bj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Wow! What a fantastic piece of glass - probably one of the most interesting I've seen. Thanks a lot for showing it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winnie Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Wow very interesting,hope someone can tell you more about it. winnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstmmrbls Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Very nice!! Here is mine 3/4" from a dig in Madaba, Jordan. I have been told that many of these are suspected of being a type of weight for small balance type scales??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popeyecollector Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Bert Cohen in Boston had some of these ancient glass marbles - but smaller. Possibly he could have some additional information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Oregon Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 Here's the one pic I have of the one Roman Marble donated by Bert Cohen to National Marble Museum. I'm guessing it was transferred to WVMAG with the other marble items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clydetul62 Posted November 22, 2010 Report Share Posted November 22, 2010 I have have 2 of them. Not show stoppers for sure. Both have that oxidation of JVV. One of mine is same base as JVV except it has two snakes around the equator (green and yellow). The other is black and looks like it rods of red and yellow pushed through. Both around the 7/8". Both of mine came from Syria. I bug the ancient coin dealers who also get artifacts in my area all the time. I have a different theory than Galen's. I think they just were suppossed to be beads that didnt get the hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'llhavethat1 Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Wow, a molten glob of glass is what I'd expect from Roman era, not a pattern with precise spacing/banding like that? Another interesting part of this thread...do the "scale balancing" marbles weigh in at anything close to a current (or old) unit of measuring weight? Cool topic, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstmmrbls Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Do not know how much they weigh but this is interesting article about glass objects Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Wow, a molten glob of glass is what I'd expect from Roman era, not a pattern with precise spacing/banding like that? Roman glass was pretty sophisticated -- long history (Egypt, Near East) by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstmmrbls Posted November 23, 2010 Report Share Posted November 23, 2010 Here is a neat glob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVVmarbles Posted November 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Thanks for all your reactions! Roman glass can certainly be very sophisticated. I've seen some amazing glasswork in museums. I already got an offer by an interested buyer. I might be interested to sell it for a good price. You can send me a pm if you are interested. Trades are also welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronmarbles Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 Looks like an end knock off from a cane pickup in glass blowing to me....this work as far as I know was not done in roman times. Just my humble opinion as a glassmaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann Posted November 24, 2010 Report Share Posted November 24, 2010 I've studied ancient Egyptian and Roman glass (most of which was actually made in Syria) and work this complicated (and more complicated) has been found in securely dated excavations, althugh never in mass quantities. Luxury items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronmarbles Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Would love to see a piece of glass made prior to 500 AD that involved an alternating cane pickup. This type of technique is from the 15th and 16th century. Toledo, Corning, and the Met display no such pieces, nor do any of the 200 plus books/ journals / excavation reports that I own on 'ancient glass. Enlighten me please :-) I am just a humble glass maker & archaeologist...lol ...and for your viewing pleasure..an Eastern Mediterranean Core Formed Alabastron from my collection. Greek / Hellenistic - 4th - 5th century BC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richsantaclaus Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 What a G R E A T topic. I didn't know anything like these existed!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 ...and for your viewing pleasure..an Eastern Mediterranean Core Formed Alabastron from my collection. Greek / Hellenistic - 4th - 5th century BC. Nice! Examples like that, some of the Greek glass "mosaic" bowls, and Roman "face" beads were what I was thinking of in terms of elaboration . . . not a specific technique like cane-pick-up. My knowledge is basically ancient metalwork. But without seeing any more, I'm pretty sure I'd like to have your entire collection of ancient glass! A cranky old art historian (northern & western Asia) with some archeological background. Ann Nice to meet you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmuehlba Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 Bert Cohen in Boston had some of these ancient glass marbles - but smaller. Possibly he could have some additional information. here is a picture I took at Amana in 2002 as Bert had a speaker talk about them forgot who but I am sure Bert would remember but they are 200 BC . Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'llhavethat1 Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 This gets more interesting as time goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clydetul62 Posted December 3, 2010 Report Share Posted December 3, 2010 I will be bringing 3 examples to Sami's marble meet tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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