Why Are Marbles Valuable?

Early marble collectors loved old and vintage marbles because they brought back happy and nostalgic childhood memories. More recently, collectors have come to view marbles as little works of art. For both these reasons, marbles remain popular collectables.

Not only do these much-loved items bring a smile to the face of their owners, marbles create a lot of interest in the sale room when they go under the hammer at auction. As a wide ranging category which encompasses many different items and eras, it requires broad in-depth knowledge and expertise to conduct accurate marble valuations.

Established in 1989, Block’s Marble Auctions has since grown to become a leading provider of antique, vintage and contemporary marbles valuations and is known as one of the leading international auctioneers of high-quality and rare marbles.

We have been buying, selling, auctioning, appraising and valuing marbles for over 40 years. Over the years we have written numerous books for Schiffer Publishing and lectured extensively on the hobby of marble collecting.

Although we have been regularly handling items of high value for decades, we are often pleasantly surprised by the rare and unusual marbles that still appear. The near perfect condition of the marbles valued for sale can also sometimes be breath-taking.

If you’re thinking of selling old marbles that you collected over the years, or inherited or found at a flea market, we promise to provide accurate valuations that reflect the rarity and condition of the items in question. In some cases, a marble’s provenance and the circumstances of how it came to be in your possession can add to its value.

Although we carry out a great many vintage and antique marble valuations, not all of the items we see are old. Even contemporary marbles can be very valuable and highly sought after by collectors.

Whatever it is you’d like to have valued, we will happily use our considerable experience to guide you through the entire marble valuation process.

To obtain a fast and accurate valuation from experts who you can trust, please call or text 203-209-7076 or email us at info@marbleauctions.com

What type of marbles are valuable?

As is the case with almost every collectable, a marble's value is determined by its type, condition, age, rarity and eye appeal.

You should be aware that machine made marbles have been produced continuously for over a hundred years. While early marble making was a slow and laborious process, by about 1932 marble-making machinery had advanced such that by that date each company was producing millions of marbles a day. So, for almost the past 90 years, millions of marbles a day have been produced almost every single day. Realistically, over 99.9% of the marbles ever produced are common and have little value. We are well-versed in identifying old marbles, as well as the notable exceptions in more recent marbles that have value.

As you might expect, marbles which are in mint condition or still in their original packaging are always much more valuable.

The value of a marble is highly dependent on the pattern, quality of execution and colors. Minute changes in pattern or hue can have a significant impact on value. We are experts in identifying these variations.

Although some marble collectors specialise in certain areas, the following items always tend to prove popular at auction:

• Mint Antique Handmade marbles
• Antique Handpainted China marbles
• All marbles from M.F. Christensen & Son Company
• All marbles from Christensen Agate Company
• Early marbles from Akro Agate Company
• Early marbles from Peltier Glass Company
• Select examples from other marble manufacturers (US and foreign)
• Select examples from modern manufacturers of “special run” marbles
• Marble packaging prior to 1960
• Marbles by a select group of contemporary artists
• Marble-related Items (trophies, medals, etc)

If you’re thinking about getting a marble valuation, it is important to speak to an expert who understands these principles and has an in-depth knowledge.

At Block’s Marble Auctions, we have been valuing a wide variety of marbles for decades. Contact us today!