Unknown marble

[Jennblahblah]

Does anyone recognize this marble signed HCL?  Here are a few photos of it.

[Shamrock Marbles]

Possibly Herman C. Leonhardt.

https://obits.postandcourier.com/us/obituaries/charleston/name/herman-leonhardt-obituary?id=8380067

[akroorka]

Size is alway an important factor in any marble ID.

I could not open the link.

Nice looker!

Marble--On!!

[Shamrock Marbles]

14 minutes ago, akroorka said:

Size is alway an important factor in any marble ID.

I could not open the link.

Nice looker!

Marble--On!!

Maybe a little admin magic could make the link work? 😉

[Shamrock Marbles]

I found a link for Jack Hahn’s website. Jack sold marbles he made at Herman’s shop. Notice the design DNA?

https://themarbleman.com/artglass-handmade-marbles/

Click “Jack Hahn "The Marble Man" See his first hand made”.

Hope this link works. 🤞🏻

Sizes are large.

Hmmm, they look like Vacor Atmospheres. 🤔

[akroorka]

8 minutes ago, Shamrock Marbles said:

Maybe a little admin magic could make the link work? 😉

OK, 
My magic opened an obituary—
There are no dead marbles here—just some beat up ones that I still love to keep and hold.
I wish the best to the one who passed---
Marble on my old friend!
I wish the very best to the family of the loved one.

[Shamrock Marbles]

4 minutes ago, akroorka said:

OK, 
My magic opened an obituary—
There are no dead marbles here—just some beat up ones that I still love to keep and hold.
I wish the best to the one who passed---
Marble on my old friend!
I wish the very best to the family of the loved one.

Yes, the artist I believed that signed the marble “HCL” was Herman.

A shame he is gone, but his work lives on!

[akroorka]

6 minutes ago, Shamrock Marbles said:

A shame he is gone, but his work lives on!

Amen,

Thanks for sharing his passing with all of us here.

Many of us do not know him but most of us share his Passion for sure.

RIP my marble collecting/making friend.

Marble--On!!!

[Jennblahblah]

Thank you, and I'll check to see if he made anything like this one.  It's approximately 2 1/4" wide.  May Mr. Herman C. Leonhardt rest in peace.  The marble is gorgeous.

[Jennblahblah]

I don't believe he made this marble, as all I see are bowls and such created by him.  But the marbles that Jack Hahn made are very similar in both design and size.  Why would Herbert sign Jack's marble?

[Shamrock Marbles]

On 9/15/2025 at 10:47 PM, Jennblahblah said:

I don't believe he made this marble, as all I see are bowls and such created by him.  But the marbles that Jack Hahn made are very similar in both design and size.  Why would Herbert sign Jack's marble?

I’m sure Herman made marbles/spheres and that is how Jack got to know him.

Most glass workers are very open to working with enthusiastic people. Herman probably opened his shop and experience to Jack.

Personally, I have offered people a chance to make marbles on my machines. It is super fun for both parties. I get to relive the early moments of my discoveries. They get to experience mayhem.

The techniques that I see in your marble are classic hot shop techniques. The rough pontil finishing is an early example in the progression of refinement.

You state that he made “bowls and such”. Well, marbles, spheres and paperweights fall into the “such” category.

If you believe it was made by someone else, then I hope you find the maker.

Sincerely,

John 

 

[Jennblahblah]

TSo, I'm guessing you're saying that Herbert may have made this marble.  Perhaps he liked Jack's marbles and decided to make one of his own.  Guess I'll leave it that he did, since his initials are indeed HCL.   

[Shamrock Marbles]

Here is an auction for a Herman Leonhardt marble:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/herman-leonhardt-handcrafted-glass-1810182990

HERMAN LEONHARDT HANDMADE GLASS MARBLE SIGNED HCL Herman Leonhard lived on the banks of the Edisto River in South Carolina where he established Swamp Art, his glass studio, where he crafts a variety of ornamental and functional glass objects. He called his marbles Herman Planets and they have "Wormholes from a Cosmic Worm". His philosophy to crafting in molten glass is "to enjoy what you're doing and be aware that the only limits are your imagination and time". Herman Leonhardt passed away in 2011 so no more of these gems will be made. 2-3/4" DIAMETER FLAWLESS CONDITION”