Marble (toy)

In the early twentieth century, small balls of stone from about 2500 BCE, identified by archaeologists as marbles, were found by excavation near Mohenjo-daro, in a site associated with the Indus Valley civilization.

His company, M. F. Christensen & Son Co., manufactured millions of toy and industrial glass marbles until they ceased operations in 1917.

[15][16][b] The British and World Marbles Championship has been held at Tinsley Green, West Sussex, England, every year since 1932.

[17][18][19] (Marbles has been played in Tinsley Green and the surrounding area for many centuries:[17][20] TIME magazine traces its origins to 1588.

[21]) Traditionally, the marbles-playing season started on Ash Wednesday and lasted until midday on Good Friday: playing after that was thought to bring bad luck.

Art marbles are usually around 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in diameter (a size also known as a "toe breaker"), but can vary, depending on the artist and the print.

A marble's worth is primarily determined by type, size, condition and eye-appeal, coupled with the law of supply and demand.

Any surface damage (characterized by missing glass, such as chips or pits) typically cuts book value by 50% or more.

Due to the large market, there are many related side businesses that have sprung up such as numerous books and guides, web sites dedicated to live auctions of marbles only, and collector conventions.

Additionally, many glass artisans produce art marbles for the collectors' market only, with some selling for thousands of dollars.

Clay, pottery, ceramic, or porcelain marbles can be made by rolling the material into a ball, and then letting dry, or firing, and then can be left natural, painted, or glazed.

[27] One mechanical technique is dropping globules of molten glass into a groove made by two interlocking parallel screws.