Vintage and Antique Marbles

51 Vintage and Antique Marbles You Can Buy

There was a time where a bag of marbles would be on every boy and girl’s Christmas list. Though there was some resurgence in the 90s and early 2000s, nowadays, for many marbles are a sweet little curio that can add some interest to a shelf or side table. For others, however, marbles are exciting pieces of history, regarded as an art form with a rich history of different makers, manufacturers, and styles. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at vintage and antique marbles, exploring affordable options ideal for display or nostalgic value as well as higher-value pieces intended for collectors.

Different Types of Marbles

  • Agates: (often called ‘aggies’), these are marbles made from nature agate, most of which were quarried and produced in Germany.
  • Alleys: (also called ‘allies’) are made from alabaster a softer stone that’s similar to marble.
  • Benningtons: Named after the Bennington pottery in Vermont that this type of marble emulates.
  • Cat’s Eyes: Clear marbles with different colored veins and streaks that resemble a cat’s eye.
  • Chinas: Marbles made from porcelain or clay.
  • Clearies: Clear glass marbles in a single color.
  • Comics: Marbles with recognizable characters printed on the surface.
  • Commies: Named after their commonality, these are simple marbles constructed from clay.
  • Corkscrews: Marbles with 2 or more spiraling colors.
  • Cane Cut Marbles: Made of glass and cut from a single cane.
  • End-of-Day Marbles: Marbles quite literally made at the end of the day from leftover crushed glass.
  • Immies: Short for imitation, these are marbles made to look like agate marbles.
  • Latticinio Core: From the Italian word for ‘net’, this type of marble has a network of narrow strands of milky white glass in its center.
  • Micas: Mica was used as a colorant for many marbles are most commonly clear marbles with a single color.
  • Milkies: Opaque milky white marbles.
  • Onion Skins: A type of end-of-day marble where leftover colored flecks of glass are stretched in a way that resembles an onion skin.
  • Peewees: Small marbles under ½ an inch wide.
  • Peppermint Swirls: A marble that mimics the red, white, and sometimes blue swirls of peppermint candy.
  • Solid Core Lutz: Features veins of jewel-like glass encompassing handmade swirls.

How Antique Marbles are Graded

The grading of antique marbles is very subjective and every collector has their own way of grading a marble. Grading is undertaken in the following categories; mint, near mint, good, and collectible, and is based on a grade between 1 and 10.

  • Mint: A marble that is in perfect condition with no marks or damage to the surface. The marble should be in the condition that it left the factory floor.
  • Near Mint: A marble that has some minor usage, there can be some evidence of hit marks, and/or some minor abrasions.
  • Good: A marble that’s clearly had use with multiple hit marks, chips, and flakes. The core can still be seen clearly but the impacts on the surface are also clear to see.
  • Collectible: A marble that has had heavy use and that’s core is completely obscured in some areas.

As you may have guessed, the biggest factor that impacts the value of marbles is their surface wear. Heavily chipped or damaged marbles, unless rare, will likely be of lower value than those in better conditions.

Our Favourite Vintage and Antique Marbles

We’ve made sure when compiling this list that there’s a variety of options both for collectors, hobbyists, and those looking for the nostalgic novelty of a good marble. We’ve broken our list down into a variety of sub-categories to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.

I) Vintage Marbles

1. 3 Panel Onionskin w/ Onion Ribbon

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $300.00

3 Panel Onionskin w/ Onion RibbonThis marble has an unusual three-panel onion skin design and has been graded 9.6 or ‘Mint’ condition.

Buy this marble here.


2. Antique 1800s Civil War era Clay Marbles Lot of 12 Size .500″ = 1/2″ +or- Mint

Material: Clay
Quantity: 12
Price: $15.00

Antique 1800s Civil War era Clay Marbles Lot of 12 SizeA large quantity of 1800s Civil war marbles made from clay in ‘Mint’ condition.

Buy this marble here.


3. Pokemon Marbles Set of 5/Numbers 26 40 78 80 92/Wigglytuff/Rapidash/Slowbro/Raichu/Gastly/Marbles/Large Marbles/Pokemon Marbles Set of 5

Material: Glass
Quantity: 5
Price: $20.12

Pokemon Marbles Set
5 good condition marbles with 5 different Pokemon on them. Colors consist of dark blue, green, and three red.

Buy this marble here.


4. Star Trek The Next Generation Collectible Action Marbles

Material: Paper, Plastic
Quantity: Mint Condition
Price: $12.00

Star Trek The Next Generation Collectible Action Marbles
5 mint marbles sealed its original Star Trek The Next Generation packaging.

Buy this marble here.


5. 2 Popeye The Sailor Man Cartoon Comic Marbles 1 Inch Navy

Material: Glass
Quantity: 5
Price: $14.10


These marbles are yellow and white in color and feature popeye the sailor man walking with his hand out.

Buy this marble here.


II) Vintage Glass Marbles

1. White Latticino

Material: Glass
Quantity: Mint Condition
Price: $20.00

White Latticino
A glass mint marble featuring a yellow and pink spiral, encircling a glass spiraled center.

Buy this marble here.


2. Large Peppermint Ribbon

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $325.00

Large Peppermint Ribbon
A glass marble featuring a blue, red, and white “Peppermint Ribbon” running through the center.

Buy this marble here.


3. 2-Inch Attractive & Twisty Yellow Latticino – Great Symmetry

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $400.00

2-Inch Attractive & Twisty Yellow Latticino – Great Symmetry
A very large 2” marble featuring a yellow tint and different colored swirls around the edge.

Buy this marble here.


4. TRIO EARLY VIVID RIBBED SOLID CORE HANDMADE ANTIQUE MARBLES (GP) MINT

Material: Glass
Quantity: 3
Price: $226.17

TRIO EARLY VIVID RIBBED SOLID CORE HANDMADE ANTIQUE MARBLES (GP) MINT
A “trio” of early ribboned marbled with different colored centers.

Buy this marble here.


5. Vintage clear marbles in original packaging. 11 ounces.

Material: Glass
Quantity: 85
Price: $11.48

Vintage clear marbles in original packaging. 11 ounces
A bag of 85 clear glass marbles in a preserved bag with some wear.

Buy this marble here.


6. 16mm Banana Swirl Early Edition Glass Player Marbles Choice of Single or Pk 5 Clear Base w Yellow & White Swirls Retired Vacor Mega Marbles

Material: Glass
Quantity: 5
Price: $4.75+


A group of marbles with a “banana swirl” at 16mm. Made between the years 2000-2003, found in a buyout store and has not been touched since 2015.

Buy this marble here.


III) Antique German Marbles

1. LARGE Antique German End of Cane Tri-Level Latticino Core Marble 2 1/2″

Material: Latticino Core
Quantity: 1
Price: $900.00

LARGE Antique German End of Cane Tri-Level Latticino Core Marble
A dark latticinio core marble dating back to the 1970s, the marble is 2”½ making it quite large.

Buy this marble here.


2. Antique Sulphide German Animal Marble

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $185.00

Antique Sulphide German Animal Marble
A clear marble featuring a Sulphide German Animal in the center.

Buy this marble here.


3. Beautiful GERMAN Orange ANTIQUE marble

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $19.99


A German marble dating back to the 1960s, handmade, in a light red color.

Buy this marble here.


4. ANTIQUE VICTORIAN GERMAN GLASS HAND MADE MARBLE x 3 same/similar 19c

Material: Glass
Quantity: 3
Price: $95.94

ANTIQUE VICTORIAN GERMAN GLASS HAND MADE MARBLE x 3 same
A group of 3 marbles in good condition, they are Victorian German Glass and handmade. Featuring orange swirls and a glass swirl center.

Buy this marble here.


5. STUNNING ANTIQUE JOSEPH’S COAT MARBLE GERMAN HANDMADE 11/16” ENGLISH STYLE NM+

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $249.99


STUNNING ANTIQUE JOSEPH’S COAT MARBLE GERMAN HANDMAD
A stunning antique marble handmade in the English style. Near Mint condition featuring yellow swirls with additional colors.

Buy this marble here.


6. Beautiful GERMAN Large Orange ANTIQUE marble

Material: Mottled Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $19.99



A small mottled glass marble with yellow and white coloring.

Buy this marble here.


7. A German Glass Hand Made Marble. Late 19th to Early 20th Century. FREE SHIPPING

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $46.02


A German Glass Hand Made Marble
A German handmade marble with a yellow center with orange and blue swirl pattern.

Buy this marble here.


IV) Antique Toy Marbles

1. VINTAGE – MARBLES (100) – WITH BOX – MADE IN GERMANY – ORIGINAL

Material: Ceramic
Quantity: 100
Price: $121.01


VINTAGE - MARBLES (100) - WITH BOX - MADE IN GERMANY - ORIGINAL
A good group of 100 marbles of different strips with a white ceramic base. German handmade all in near-mint condition.

Buy this marble here.


2. Vintage Berry Pink 60 Solid Color MARBLES in the original box

Material: Glass
Quantity: 60
Price: $39.00



A group of 60 marbles in the different colors of red, white, yellow, blue, black, and green.

Buy this marble here.


3. Vintage 1969 Ribbon Swirl Marble Head Marbles in Original Orange Box

Material: Glass
Quantity: 70-80
Price: $29.99



A large quantity of different colored marbles in a small box.

Buy this marble here.


4. vintage Original WOOD & MARBLE TOY in box: ALLEY UP bowling game Transogram 40’s

Material: Glass and Wood
Quantity: 5
Price: $44.10


vintage Original WOOD & MARBLE TOY in box
A wonderful vintage toy dating back to the 1940s.

Buy this marble here.


5. Marble-Head Landslide Game 1969 Vintage Ideal Toys 100% Complete In Original Box

Material: Glass
Quantity: 40-50
Price: $29.99



A good conditioned game of marble head with all its marbles and original equipment.

Buy this marble here.


6. Set of five Akro agate marbles in original box 16 mm

Material: Glass
Quantity: 5
Price: $65.00



A set of 5 marbles by the brand Akro in their original box.

Buy this marble here.


V) Agate Marbles

1. Peewee bullseye Agate

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $35.00



A single ‘peewee’-sized marble in white with a large red eye.

Buy this marble here.


2. Beautiful Banded Bullseye Carnelian Agate w/ Large Crystal Eye

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $75.00


Beautiful Banded Bullseye Carnelian Agate
A banded bullseye carnelian agate marble with different colored rings and different colors.

Buy this marble here.


3. Beautiful Banded Bullseye Carnelian Agate

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $75.00


Beautiful Banded Bullseye Carnelian Agate
A stunning agate marble with a gradual build-up of color.

Buy this marble here.


4. Beautiful Hand Cut Banded Agate

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $90.00


Beautiful Hand Cut Banded Agate
A great agate marble in good condition grade 9.8

Buy this marble here.


5. Larger Hand Cut Banded Bullseye Carnelian Agate

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $85.00


Larger Hand Cut Banded Bullseye Carnelian Agate
A large agate marble in grade 9.7 with an orange tint and great condition.

Buy this marble here.


6. Bold Red & White Bullseye on Grey Hand-Faceted Agate

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $60.00


Bold Red & White Bullseye on Grey Hand-Faceted Agate
A great agate marble with a strange white and orange topped swirl.

Buy this marble here.


7. HTF Black Hand-Faceted Agate w/ Crystalline Eyes

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $50.00


HTF Black Hand-Faceted Agate
A stunning agate marble with a large black strip with a cream top and bottom.

Buy this marble here.


8. Grey Agate w Bullseye & Fine-Line Bullseye Rings

Material: Agate
Quantity: 1
Price: $25.00


Grey Agate w Bullseye
An agate marble with a scaled pattern, the marble has a solid cream base.

Buy this marble here.


VI) Antique Clay Marbles

1. Original Handmade Clay Marbles #4 Abstract blend. Signed Dated Claystone Marbles

Material: Agate
Quantity: 5
Price: $30.00


Original Handmade Clay Marbles #4 Abstract blend
A great pack of 4 marbles made from agate in a variety of rainbow colors

Buy this marble here.


2. French Antique Clay Marbles

Material: Clay
Quantity: Job lot
Price: $25.88


French Antique Clay Marbles
A variety of different colored clay marbles that can be bought in a large quantity.

Buy this marble here.


3. Civil War to Edwardian Clay Marbles

Material: Clay
Quantity: 1-4
Price: $18.00



A large range of different colored marbles where you can choose and buy 1-4 at a time.

Buy this marble here.


4. 15 Antique Clay Marbles – Includes 1 Large Shooter

Material: Clay
Quantity: 15
Price: $33.60


15 Antique Clay Marbles
A group of 15 clay marbles in different conditions and varieties.

Buy this marble here.


5. Antique Clay, China, and Bennington marbles – Lot of 25 marbles from the 1800s in various colors for collections or décor

Material: Clay
Quantity: 25
Price: $28.80


Antique Clay, China, and Bennington marbles
A group of different colored marbles in a variety of different styles and ages.

Buy this marble here.


6. Civil War Era Clay Marbles Sold by the Dozen: Free Shipping

Material: Clay
Quantity: 12
Price: $24.00


Civil War Era Clay Marbles Sold by the Dozen
A dozen civil war marbles dating back to the 19th century.

Buy this marble here.


VII) Opaque lutz marble

1. Onionskin Lutz

Material: Onionskin
Quantity: 1
Price: $200.00


Onionskin Lutz
A single nice red and green tint Onionskin marble

Buy this marble here.


2. Turquoise Colored Glass Ribbon Lutz

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $250.00



A turquoise-colored marble with a couple of green swirls on the edges.

Buy this marble here.


3. Cranberry Ribbon Lutz

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $175.00


Cranberry Ribbon Lutz
A single glass onion skin marble with a red center and gold swirl pattern.

Buy this marble here.


4. Forest Green Glass Mist Lutz

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $250.00


Forest Green Glass Mist Lutz
A green base with gold sparkle swirl pattern marble, with a hint of black. Mint condition and great grade of 9.6.

Buy this marble here.


5. Black Opaque Lutz

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $175.00


Black Opaque Lutz
Single glass marble with a green and black swirl pattern. Alongside these patterns is a single beautiful golden swirl.

Buy this marble here.


6. Brilliant Aqua Glass Lutz

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $350.00



A great single marble with a blue core and gold/black swirl on each edge with white swirls between.

Buy this marble here.


7. Amber-Orange Glass Ribbon Lutz

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: 225.00


Amber-Orange Glass Ribbon Lutz
A stunning yellow-tinted marble with an orange swirl pattern around the center.

Buy this marble here.


VIII) Rare Marbles

1. Rare Shrunken True Orange Ribbon Lutz

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $350.00


Rare Shrunken True Orange Ribbon Lutz
A glass marble in a great rare shrunken orange pattern. The marble is Mint condition with a grade of 9.0.

Buy this marble here.


2. Rarely Seen Army Green Colored Glass Latticino

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $250.00



A great single marble with army green colored swirls. The marble is in Mint condition with a grade of 9.5.

Buy this marble here.


3. Rare Hand-Painted Number 6 (9) China

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $150.00



A rare hand-painted number 6 marble from a Chinese game that had the numbers 1-9. This marble is in Wet Mint condition with a 9.8 grade.

Buy this marble here.


4. Rare Double Starburst China

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $400.00



A single white marble with a lovely red star on the top and bottom. The marble is in Mint Condition with a grade of 9.6.

Buy this marble here.


5. ULTRA-Rare CAC Striped Opaque with OXBLOOD

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $400.00


ULTRA-Rare CAC Striped Opaque with OXBLOOD
A glowing blue marble in a great mint condition with a 9.7 grade. The marble features a blue core with a red, green, and black swirl.

Buy this marble here.


6. 1 & 1/16″ LARGE RARE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN GLASS FORTUNE-TELLING ANTIQUE MARBLES MM

Material: Glass
Quantity: 1
Price: $164.49


LARGE RARE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN GLASS FORTUNE-TELLING ANTIQUE MARBLES MM
A small glass marble with edges, used for fortune-telling, every edge has a different number with white writing.

Buy this marble here.


Final Thoughts

Vintage and antique marbles are lovely, tactile pieces of art that can be satisfyingly simple or intricate artisanal pieces. It’s no wonder why some of the stunning marbles on this list will appeal to collectors, but some of the other entries on our list are sure to stir up nostalgic memories or decor inspiration.

 

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