MABLE SALE: HOW TO SELL 6,000+ RARE ART GLASS MARBLES

[carolk]

I am an executrix of an estate and have over 6.000 rare art glass marbles to sell. 

 

I have photographed and organized them.

 

I can share photos of them with you (or anyone) via a link through your email to a google photo album.

 

I do not know how to start and I have no idea of the value or how to sell. 

 

Can you please help me with this?

 

Thank you,

Carol 

[email protected]

[akroorka]

We can help here--welcome to TheMarbleconnection carolk.
You will have to post three or four at a time with multiple images of each.
Look for any scratches that look like signatures made from an inscriber machine—start there.
Marble—On!!
 

[carolk]

Thank you...

I there any way to send the marble photos to interested people by sharing the Google Photo Album? That is readily done by sharing the Album with their email address. That way they can scroll through the entire 6,000+ marbles.

I have over 500 photos

I appreciate your help

~Carol

[Alan]

How do you know that they are rare?  Who is the artist that made them?

6,000 art glass marbles in one place would set a world record.

[carolk]

Good question!

This is a 50 year collection from the estate of a supposed expert in marbles.  I know that the cost to originally purchase the marbles was in the many 10's of thousands of dollars  and it is a hand picked and curated collection. Many of which are signed,

I would be very happy to share the photos of all of the marbles .

I can do that by sharing the Google Photo Album with you (or anyone). I would just need an email address: what is you email?

Thank you from Carol

PS: my emai is [email protected]

 

[akroorka]

45 minutes ago, carolk said:

I would be very happy to share the photos of all of the marbles .

 

Let’s start here, my friend.
Marble Id is not an easy thing, but we have to start somewhere. I am willing to look.
Marble—On!!
 

[carolk]

thank you. will do 

will finalize and group and start in a few days.

thanks from carol

[Fire1981]

I haven’t checked in a while but there use to a Contemporary marble Board. Maybe dig around in Google and see if it’s still up and running. If so I’m sure they can help you out with initial ID’s and other traits🔥

RAR

[Royal3]

13 hours ago, Fire1981 said:

I haven’t checked in a while but there use to a Contemporary marble Board. Maybe dig around in Google and see if it’s still up and running. If so I’m sure they can help you out with initial ID’s and other traits🔥

RAR

Last time I tried that link it was kaput, unfortunately. The most comprehensive website for identifying contemporary spheres that I currently know of is Brian Bowden’s offering: https://www.pbase.com/bkbowden/marblesforsale&gcmd=add_comment

He may also be very interested in obtaining some of your items. 

[VaMarbles]

19 hours ago, carolk said:

Good question!

This is a 50 year collection from the estate of a supposed expert in marbles.  I know that the cost to originally purchase the marbles was in the many 10's of thousands of dollars  and it is a hand picked and curated collection. Many of which are signed,

I would be very happy to share the photos of all of the marbles .

I can do that by sharing the Google Photo Album with you (or anyone). I would just need an email address: what is you email?

Thank you from Carol

PS: my emai is [email protected]

 

Hello and welcome.  
 

50 year collector, wow that’s a long time to collect.  I’m sure somebody on here will know the collector since it’s a close community.  Who is it ?  What area of the US are we talking about?

thanks Carol!

 

[Fire1981]

Check this out. If you have John Alloway’s or Shaun McGreogors(sp) Vortex marbles?$$$$$$$$🔥

RAR

[Alan]

10 hours ago, Fire1981 said:

Check this out. If you have John Alloway’s or Shaun McGreogors(sp) Vortex marbles?$$$$$$$$🔥

RAR

Neither of those two makers sold for high retail prices new, and both sell for much less secondhand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fire1981]

Well Alan. A 3 inch Alloway went for $1,500 at the Phoenix Show in 2003. One of  Shaun (@$& Hole) McGrady(sp) 6 inch Vortex’s went for $2,500. I’m confident my time spent in the last 25 years collecting Contemporary marbles probably exceeds your interest in collecting them and meeting the Artists who made them as well 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

RAR

[Fire1981]

Have you met any of the Artists in Burt’s calendar and actually talked to them? I just want to see pics 🔥

RAR

[carolk]

Hello and looking forward to posting the pictures from the estate marble collection. I expect that the photo project of the collection of over 6,000 art glass marbles will be completed this week. 

There are over 500 photos of the over 6K marbles in a Google photo album. The easiest thing to do is the share the album with anyone who gives me an email address. The you can access the entire collection.

If you want them posted on this site, how do you suggest that I do that? I see there is a max total size of attachments of 48MB. so guessing there would have to be hundreds of posting if that is the way to go. 

BTW, there are some marbles in the picture above in this collection

Thank you for your time and help.

Thank you from carol korade (executrix of the estate)

[email protected]

 

[Alan]

14 hours ago, Fire1981 said:

Well Alan. A 3 inch Alloway went for $1,500 at the Phoenix Show in 2003. One of  Shaun (@$& Hole) McGrady(sp) 6 inch Vortex’s went for $2,500. I’m confident my time spent in the last 25 years collecting Contemporary marbles probably exceeds your interest in collecting them and meeting the Artists who made them as well 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

RAR

And that confidence is based upon?

I expect that in quoting specific values to the OP sight-unseen, you are ready to offer those amounts that you are confident in.

[akroorka]

I urge you all to get back to the original topic here.

Marble--On!!

[Chad G.]

[carolk]

Hello,

 

I am the executrix of an estate and will be selling over 6000 art glass marbles. Here is the link to the folder in Google photo: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gvr3uY5dSTRMF8tv8

 

I would appreciate your appraisal of the marbles and thoughts as to the best way to sell them. I would like to sell them in bulk. Thank you for your help.

 

The following is a summary of  the marble folder organization and how to identify the marble for reference: 

 

Photo numbers 1-69:  divided clear plastic bins containing random marbles with different colors, sizes, etc that are placed in separate dividers. Refer to  specific marbles as follows:

1. Tell me the bin number

2. Tell me the row number (from 1-6,  top to bottom)

3. Tell me the letter of the cube in each row  (a-f left to right) 

4.  provide a description or photo of the specific marble  

Example:

I have a question about Bin number 5, Marble Row 3, Cube C, the blue marble with black dots.

 

Photo numbers 70-115: undivided clear plastic bins that contain random marbles with different sizes, colors etc placed in rows. Refer to specific marbles as following 

1.Tell me the bin number 

2. Tell me the row number (from 1-6,  top to bottom)

3. Tell me the general location of the marble in the row  (6 marbles from left side)

4. Provide a description or photo of the specific marble 

Example:

I have a question about Bin number 75, Marble Row 4, 6  marbles from the left side, yellow swirled marble

 

Photos numbers 201-274: individual marbles that are not signed. Tell me the Marble number.

 

Photo numbers 401-788: small individually bagged marbles with writing on the majority of bags. Most of the writings state what the artist named the marble or collection.  Tell me the photo number of the bagged marble set.

 

Photo numbers 1001-1077: boxed sets from various artists or shops. These numbers also contain random marble pieces such as a dandelion crafted into a marble.  Tell me the photo number of the sets.

 

Photo numbers 3001 - 3291: individual signed marbles, The signatures on the marble are hard to capture, so please send a list of ones you would like further signature information. 

 

Photo numbers 5001-5002: large unsigned marbles.  Refer to  specific marbles as follows:

1. Tell me the bin number 

2. Tell me the row number (from 1-3,  top to bottom)

3. Tell me the letter of the cube in each row  (A to E left to right) 

4. provide a description or photo of the specific marble  

Example:

I have a question about Bin number 5001,  Row 3, Cube E, Black marble with stars

 

Photo numbers 6001-6019: sets of marbles. Tell me the photo number of the set. 

 

Thank you,

Carol Korade

[email protected]

[Shamrock Marbles]

Wow!  Awesome samples.  Wishing you the best outcome on your task.

[Fire1981]

231-233. Those are Mike Barton. Also known as Migbar in the marble community. He is no longer with us. Having sold a few of his I that I have. Each of those with the color combos are $25 a pop. It always depends on who wants them more than the other person. Your biggest challenge is to start cataloguing initial🔥

RAR

RAR

[Chad G.]

23 hours ago, carolk said:

Hello,

 

I am the executrix of an estate and will be selling over 6000 art glass marbles. Here is the link to the folder in Google photo: 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gvr3uY5dSTRMF8tv8

 

I would appreciate your appraisal of the marbles and thoughts as to the best way to sell them. I would like to sell them in bulk. Thank you for your help.

 

The following is a summary of  the marble folder organization and how to identify the marble for reference: 

 

Photo numbers 1-69:  divided clear plastic bins containing random marbles with different colors, sizes, etc that are placed in separate dividers. Refer to  specific marbles as follows:

1. Tell me the bin number

2. Tell me the row number (from 1-6,  top to bottom)

3. Tell me the letter of the cube in each row  (a-f left to right) 

4.  provide a description or photo of the specific marble  

Example:

I have a question about Bin number 5, Marble Row 3, Cube C, the blue marble with black dots.

 

Photo numbers 70-115: undivided clear plastic bins that contain random marbles with different sizes, colors etc placed in rows. Refer to specific marbles as following 

1.Tell me the bin number 

2. Tell me the row number (from 1-6,  top to bottom)

3. Tell me the general location of the marble in the row  (6 marbles from left side)

4. Provide a description or photo of the specific marble 

Example:

I have a question about Bin number 75, Marble Row 4, 6  marbles from the left side, yellow swirled marble

 

Photos numbers 201-274: individual marbles that are not signed. Tell me the Marble number.

 

Photo numbers 401-788: small individually bagged marbles with writing on the majority of bags. Most of the writings state what the artist named the marble or collection.  Tell me the photo number of the bagged marble set.

 

Photo numbers 1001-1077: boxed sets from various artists or shops. These numbers also contain random marble pieces such as a dandelion crafted into a marble.  Tell me the photo number of the sets.

 

Photo numbers 3001 - 3291: individual signed marbles, The signatures on the marble are hard to capture, so please send a list of ones you would like further signature information. 

 

Photo numbers 5001-5002: large unsigned marbles.  Refer to  specific marbles as follows:

1. Tell me the bin number 

2. Tell me the row number (from 1-3,  top to bottom)

3. Tell me the letter of the cube in each row  (A to E left to right) 

4. provide a description or photo of the specific marble  

Example:

I have a question about Bin number 5001,  Row 3, Cube E, Black marble with stars

Photo numbers 6001-6019: sets of marbles. Tell me the photo number of the set. 

 

Thank you,

Carol Korade

[email protected]

I see some of everything, contemporaries OF EVERY SORT, Torch marbles, Antique German handmade, machinemade from Jabo, Vacor, Akro etc. .. you certainly have your work cut out for you. You need an in hand marble collector to sort all of these for you efficiently and it will also be the quickest route. You do have some stand outs but 6000 marbles is a LOT TO LOOK @ i WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK LATER.   

[carolk]

Thank you Chad... I appreciate your reply and guidance. 

I am the executrix of the will for Jim's 2 children - so trying to work this through for them.  They appreciate the kindness of you and the others in this group. 

If possible, can you let me know the recommended next steps?

With gratitude from Carol

 

[Steph]

On 3/10/2025 at 11:03 AM, Royal3 said:

Last time I tried that link it was kaput, unfortunately. The most comprehensive website for identifying contemporary spheres that I currently know of is Brian Bowden’s offering: https://www.pbase.com/bkbowden/marblesforsale&gcmd=add_comment

He may also be very interested in obtaining some of your items. 

@carolk, I think contacting Brian Bowden would be a good move. 

[Shamrock Marbles]

Carol,

My I suggest you get these sorted into categories:

1) Antique Handmade

2) Contemporary Handmade 

3) Vintage Machine Made

4) Contemporary Machine Made 

5) To Be Determined (Don’t know where they go for now).

**
You need someone with broad knowledge for this initial sort.

**
First, I would focus on Antique Handmade marbles. Get someone with deep knowledge to identify and help value. Sell this group first.

**
Second, get someone with deep knowledge on the Vintage Machine Mades to identify and value these marbles. Sell this group next.

**
Third, get the Contemporary Handmade group identified, valued a sold. Get someone very familiar with this category.

**
Fourth, sort and ID the Contemporary Machine Made group. Sell next.

**
Lastly, clear the unidentified stragglers.

**
YMMV, but I think getting this collection sorted up front is imperative.

-John