Clay, Ceramic and Stoneware Marbles
Before glass marbles became common, antique marbles were made from ceramics, including clay, stoneware, and china or porcelain. These were first made in America in 1884 by The Akron Toy Company. Prior to 1884 they were imported from Germany.
Billions of the plain clay marbles were made in the USA from 1884 until about 1950. Despite being antiques, they are so common you can sometimes find them in bulk for a few cents each.
On the other hand, certain ceramic marbles are quite collectible. These include the affordable glazed Bennington marbles colored brown, tan or blue, as well as the early "China" marbles that were painted with often intricate line patterns. Especially rare and desirable are the "Pennsylvania Dutch china" marbles from the late 1800s, which feature charming hand painted designs. These can easily fetch more than $500 when they do come up for sale.
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