Clay marbles?

[anitap]

These were found at a nature center in Texas (I work there) at three different times in three different places in 2005 and 2006. Seem to be made of stone or clay. They are not magnetic and not heavy enough to be made of lead. The largest one has an "equator" around it. The smallest one is about 5/8 inches in diameter, the white one is 3/4 inches in diameter and the largest one is a little over 3/4 inches in diameter. I was also told that the rock on the hiking trails was brought in so they could have been mixed in with that. They were just setting on the ground. The property used to be a farm. I was told they couldn't be case shot from projectiles so are they old clay marbles? Thanks for any help.

 

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[Real de Tayopa Tropical Tramp]

hmm sling shot projectiles for small game?

Tropical Tramp

duh Gollyum

 

[junkdigger]

The clay marbles that I have found were mostly off-white to tan in color. One is glazed with a shiny brown color. Your blue ones,do they look like they were glazed (a shiny blue finish)? Also,none of the ones I have found had any mold marks on them. I assume they were formed by rolling them between the maker's hands,then firing them,maybe in a stove.

 

[anitap]

There's no evidence of glazing on any of them.

 

[downindixie]

Back when I was a kid playing marbles,I would have used them,if I had found them.

 

[anitap]

Here are a couple more photos. One shows the "equator" band around and it does go all the way around. I had to take it without the flash so it's a little fuzzy, sorry. The other photo is after I poured vinegar over them and gently scrubbed them. Only the small one seemed to either clean up a little or I scrubbed some kind of coating off in places. Hope I didn't screw it up. I haven't tried to polish them and I can't see any fingerprints.

 

[cheese]

I have a large antique marble collection I've built over the years (mostly buying them), and these don't look like any marbles I have or have seen in any books. I think they were maybe more for grinding (corn, wheat, whatever) between two grinding stones or maybe tumbling something. Not sure, but I don't think they're marbles.

 

[stoney56]

Common Brown-Bodied Earthenware

Common brown-bodied earthenware marbles are usually referred to as "clays" or "commies." They were manufactured from low-fired brown or red clays, and depending on the amount and type of impurities always present in the clay, would assume a post-firing color of red, brown, gray, or tan. These marbles are very porous and rapidly absorb water placed on them.

As mentioned, manufacture of common brown-bodied earthenware marbles began in Akron, Ohio, in 1889. They were first made there by S.C. Dyke and Company, and shortly thereafter by that company's co-owner's brother, Acton L. Dyke. It was Acton Dyke who apparently introduced painted, or dyed, clay marbles in 1890, around the same time he also applied for a patent for machinery that could produce 300 marbles per hour.

The following year the two brothers consolidated their companies and operated as the American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Company until 1904. They soon had their machinery producing approximately 1000 marbles per hour. These marbles were sold both dyed and undyed; the dyed examples were most frequently red, green, yellow, and blue. Some were dyed in solid colors while others were speckled with one or more colors.

I think the key word here is dyed, not glazed as a Bennington would be. IMO

 

[cheese]

Cool Stoney! You collect marbles by chance? I've got some Akro marbles still in the original store display box.

I agree they're definitely not benningtons. They look more like stone than clay to me.

 

[schlooppy]

could also possibly indian gaming stones. they were round like marbles and all different sizes, but I think they were mainly made out of stone.

 

[anitap]

Wow! Thanks for all the opinions! The "equator" around the largest ball doesn't look anything like the ones in those photos. I've always kinda thought that they looked like smoothed rocks but not polished. But again, I've never seen any clay marbles except what I've been finding on the net. I'm fascinated by the idea of Indian gaming marbles. The Karakawa (excuse spelling?) indians did live in the area where I found these. Anyway, I have some more avenues to pursue on my hunt now! Thanks!

 

[schlooppy]

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-Hohokam-and-S...ryZ28284QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Try this link out, hope it works. Its some game stones on ebay.

 

[Nail Digger]

I don't collect marbles, so I'm certainly no expert on the subject. I do, however, have 67 clay marbles that were handed down by my great grandmother. They range in size from 3/8" to about 1 1/4", some white, some dyed, and 2 glazed. I assume most were hand rolled, as many are not perfect spheres and have some flat spots here and there. The surface texture of the items in your photos appears to be rougher than the texture on any of my marbles, indicating possible stone constuction to me. Also, I don't think weathering of the clay marbles would create the rougher texture, simply because all the earthenware vessel fragments that I find around here still have their original smooth texture. I would think that marbles exposed to the elements would also maintain their smooth texture. I could be wrong. It has happened once.

 

[stoney56]

Wouldn't clay absorb a drop of water and either bead up or run off a stone?

 

[Monty]

It is really too pourus for any of the clay marbles I've seen. Most of them around here have some kind of shiney glass like finish on them and usually a spot where the surface finishing material pooled kup. I would have to go with the game ball idea. Monty

 

[anitap]

I looked at the link to eBay for the game balls and mine do look alot like those but those are really big (over 4 inches)! Mine are more the size of marbles. I'm still undecided what they are...

 

[stoney56]

OK. Would you settle for both? LOL

See what they show and tell.

http://www.frontieramericana.com/iteminfo.cfm?ItemNumber=L2065

 

[cheese]

Hey, now that looks like a winner! Even the colors!

 

[anitap]

Yep, Looks like you all have penned it down! I'm excited about them being old clay marbles whether they were used as grape or cannister shot or not. Wish I knew how old they were. I'll probably never know. Since I know that the nature center used to be farmland, it makes since that some farm kids had marbles there. Thanks again!

 

[anitap]

If the nature center ever starts a display area for relics found on the property, I may consider donating them to them. Technically, I guess they belong to the nature center anyway. They do have an old victorian house on the property that is decorated in that time period. A shadow box on the wall with them and an explanation would be a nice touch. I'll think about it...

In the mean time, I'm keeping my eye out for more marbles!!