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Handmade Glass Marbles | ||
Onionskin or Solid Colored Marbles
Onionskins are solid color spiral marbles without individual ribbons or
threads. Onionskin marbles were made from about 1850 to 1920 in the
same factories as the candy stripe marbles. The German craftsmen
referred to them as speckled marbles, and although they have a spotty
appearance, many have had the spots of colored glass pulled and twisted
into swirled lines. The clear glass rods was rolled over colored crumbs
or specks of glass until completely covered, then reheated until all of
the spots of color melted and fused together. A layer of clear glass
was added, and marble was pulled to the desired diameter and cut in the
same manner as the candy stripes.
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Individually Made Marbles
Resembling onionskins, except being twisted or cut off at one end,
individually made marbles are often referred to as End of Day or Ohio
Glass Marbles. A different manufacturing process was used whereby a
small amount of glass on a pontil was rolled over a base color or colors
(usually white or yellow), then rolled again over small pieces of
colored glass which adhered to the hot surface. An outer layer of
clear glasswas added, then the pontil was then pulled or cut off, and
its point of attachment ground down slightly.
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Song: "Rocky Top"
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