JVVmarbles Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Does any of you like the antique melon ball marbles? Some have very nice colors! I especially like the really large ones (very hard to find!). Here's a photo of some of my faves, the large green one is huge, just under 2-1/4" and glows like crazy under a blacklight. All have facetted pontils, so early marbles. I'd love to see more photo's of nice melon ball marbles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTAndrea Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 I have 3 or 4 melon balls but haven't been lucky enough to get the large ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinemades Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Few years ago I found an over 2" blue Mellon ball in an antique shop in San Francisco. It took me few minutes to realize what it really is after locating the faceted ground pontil. They are impressive in those sizes. Sami Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Not large but I like very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTAndrea Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Did you buy it, Sami? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinemades Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Andrea, I bought it and sold it within weeeks. Sami Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aleecee Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I found these a few years ago in a small antique shop. They were only a few dollars each. The small ones are pee wee sized and the yellowish one is 3/4 ". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdesousa Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Here're my larger ones. The blue one in the back is 60 mm (2 3/8"), the fluorescent yellow one next to it is 2 1/16" (53 mm) and my favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVVmarbles Posted February 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Woooow! Hansel, that's very impressive. What lovely colors. Is the fluorescent yellow one a Vaseline glass based marble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstmmrbls Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Fantastic group H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aleecee Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Those marbles look esp nice grouped together,, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdesousa Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Woooow! Hansel, that's very impressive. What lovely colors. Is the fluorescent yellow one a Vaseline glass based marble? Thanks JVV. Vaseline glass is translucent, I think, and these are opaque, but I know what you mean. Yes, the yellow ones are highly fluorescent. I don't dare sleep with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdesousa Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Those marbles look esp nice grouped together,, Yes Aleecee, you're correct. A handful of small opaques makes as pretty a group as any type of handmade marble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'llhavethat1 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Those are bigger than I would have thought were made. Do you think they were intended to be marbles or something else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVVmarbles Posted February 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Thanks JVV. Vaseline glass is translucent, I think, and these are opaque, but I know what you mean. Yes, the yellow ones are highly fluorescent. I don't dare sleep with them. I have several Vaseline glass based and they glow a fantastic bright green under a blacklight. I've been told it's because the glass contains radioactive Uranium...I'd love to check with a geiger counter someday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hdesousa Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Those are bigger than I would have thought were made. Do you think they were intended to be marbles or something else My guess is that they were made to imitate naturally colored minerals. Just like MFC's colors, which the Germans predated - carnelian, jade, turquoise, etc. Maybe the large ones were made for display? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVVmarbles Posted February 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Those are bigger than I would have thought were made. Do you think they were intended to be marbles or something else Yes, most certainly used as marbles, some of my large ones have moons and chips from playing, just like other marbles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeroen Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Wow, indeed a very nice group Hansel! Those yellow ones are great. Jeroen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lstmmrbls Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Just because they have dings and chips would not necessarily mean (at least to me) they were made to play with as marbles. The round shape would be attractive to children who would play with them like they were marbles but this does not mean they were made for play as marbles. Many Sulphides are dinged up but their expense when sold new would make me believe they were sold for use other than kids marble games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JVVmarbles Posted February 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 Yes Aleecee, you're correct. A handful of small opaques makes as pretty a group as any type of handmade marble. Hi Hansel, you keep surprising me with your wonderful collection and I'm sure most of us would love to see more of what you have. Maybe you could post some more photo's of your beauties? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumblebee Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Previously I had only found one melon ball in the wild (blue left) but today found two more, including an opaque light aqua. The top darker green one doesn't have a "big" pontil on the bottom pole, which is totally smooth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 I've always liked them, but never found any . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted February 19, 2016 Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Nice bump. So simple yet so sweet. Those are some lovely shades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disco005 Posted February 20, 2016 Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 I would love to find one in the wild! Especially one of the deeper red ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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