Blizzard Mica? Contemp, Remelt, Original, Polished?????

[marbles34]

Hey guys and gals!

I recently picked up this blizzard mica and was wondering what everyone thought of it?? The marble measures a little over 1 1/2" and it has a translucent blue core shrunk inside the mica. The pontils on it are still there but I believe they have been remelted with a tourch?? They are unlike the traditional german pontil. The marble also has a lot of "orange peel" on the surface, would remelting the marble cause this?? What does everyone think?? Is it an old shrunking onion with mica that has been remelted? Or is a good example of a contemporary marble made to look old?? Thanks for the help!!

[david Chamberlain]

Does the core have a lobed effect? If so I'm thinking a really odd but older example not new work. David

[lstmmrbls]

I am going to go with newer.

[marbles34]

Yes, the core does have a lobed effect to it on two sides of the marble. Ill try to get a picture of it.

[david Chamberlain]

Assuming the color is as intense as it appears on the screen this would lend a stronger possibility towards it being newer. What were the circumstances under which you cam by this marble? Any hints there? David

[marbles34]

The blue in the marble is alot darker than the pictures show. The light makes it look much brighter. The blue core reminds me of a jelly core that is sometimes seen in german handmades. I picked this marble up off ebay on a chance. The picture was bad and I was "told" they got it in an estate sale quite a few years ago? LOL

[catfish]

Can you take a photo of it underwater so we can better see the lobes?

[richsantaclaus]

I am not sure it's a newer marble because of two major things:

1) the punty mark is not like the ordinary punty mark left by a glass or metal holding rod that I see when I make my marbles. This one seems to have a slight twist as if it were cut off like in the older days.

2) the orange peel on the surface (if I am seeing that correctly) is too consistent to be made using today's equipment. the molds will leave chill marks but not in that pattern of orange peel look.

[marbles34]

Here are some pics of it underwater. They show the shrunking core and the lobing of the marble a little better.

[marbles34]

Some more pics.

[david Chamberlain]

They sure didn't spare the mica! David

[lstmmrbls]

With those pics I am sticking with newer.

[catfish]

Is there a really slight glow under UV? Also looks like a funky spot on there........patched maybe?

[lstmmrbls]

I would not rule out a redo. The main reason I believe it to be new work is I have never(unless dug)seen a marble of this stature with such funky unfinished pontils. The surface also looks wrong to me.

[catfish]

I would not rule out a redo. The main reason I believe it to be new work is I have never(unless dug)seen a marble of this stature with such funky unfinished pontils. The surface also looks wrong to me.

I agree about the surface. But that one photo looks to show a discolored section of the clear glass. Just wondering if it isn't a patch job and the "fixer" fudged up the surface.

[JVVmarbles]

I'm almost sure this one is modern. Here's a pic of an antique cased blizzard mica. This one has a highly facetted pontil.