Almost everyone has a jar of old marbles tucked away somewhere. Most are common, but some are antique handmade treasures or rare machine-made marbles that collectors pay well for. Here's how to sort them out.
Handmade or Machine-Made?
This is the big question, since handmade marbles are generally older and often worth more.
- Handmade glass marbles were made mostly in Germany from about the 1840s to the early 1900s. Each one was cut from a glass rod, which leaves a rough spot on one or both ends called a pontil mark. Look for this small, rough or slightly flattened spot.
- Machine-made marbles came along in the early 1900s and took over by the 1920s. They have no pontils, though they may have a small seam line or "cut line" where the glass was sheared.
Popular Handmade Types
- Swirls: colorful ribbons twisted through the glass, like latticinio (a net-like core), solid core and divided core swirls.
- Onionskins: covered in colorful streaks and specks, like the layers of an onion.
- Sulphides: clear glass with a small silvery-white figure inside, usually an animal or person. These are especially popular.
- End of day: made from leftover bits of glass, with a mottled, speckled look.
- Micas: clear or colored glass with sparkly flecks of mica inside.
- Clay and china marbles: some of the oldest and cheapest marbles were plain or painted clay, or glazed china.
Machine-Made Makers
- Akro Agate (1910s to 1950s): famous for corkscrew swirls and "oxbloods" with deep red swirls.
- Christensen Agate (1920s): bold, flame-like swirls in bright colors, highly prized.
- Peltier: known for comic-character marbles with cartoon transfers, plus colorful "rainbos."
- M.F. Christensen: early machine-made marbles, including "brick" and "oxblood" marbles.
- Vitro Agate, Marble King and Master Marble: later makers of common, colorful marbles.
- Cat's eyes: clear marbles with a colored vane inside, popular from the 1950s, many made in Japan and Mexico. Most are common.
What About Size?
Most marbles are about 5/8 inch across. Larger "shooters" over an inch, and tiny marbles, are less common, and big handmade marbles can be especially valuable.
Condition Matters a Lot
- Collectors grade marbles by surface wear. Chips, dings, fractures, cloudy surfaces and heavy wear all lower value a great deal.
- Some marbles have been polished to remove damage. Polishing usually lowers value, and polished marbles can have flattened pontils or a look that's too smooth and shiny.
- Original boxes and bags, especially boxed sets from Akro Agate or other makers, add value and charm.
Watch for Reproductions
Contemporary art glass marbles are beautiful and collectible in their own right, but some are made to look old. Modern sulphides, swirls and onionskins are common. Very bright, perfectly crisp marbles in perfect condition should be looked at closely.
Caring for Marbles
- Store marbles so they don't knock against each other, which causes chips.
- Clean gently with mild soap and water, and avoid soaking clay marbles.
- Display them in jars, dishes or shadow boxes, out of direct sunlight.
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