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Set of Marbles

late 19th century
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Marbles are one of the oldest known toys and are known to have been played with in the pre-Christian Rome. It is a simple toy, but one that has stood the test of time, going in and out of fashion throughout the ages.

Originally made in the late 19th century, these marbles were found on the banks of the River Thames by a professional 'Mudlark'. This set consists of 197 different coloured and sized marbles, all with internal swirls in shades of green, red, white, blue, brown, orange, yellow, and black.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 11 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
  • Marbles
Materials and techniques
Brief description
A set of 197 different coloured and sized marbles, such as blue & white swirls, white, yellow, orange & white, blue, pearlised, white with red & brown, multi coloured, stone, black & white and green and white, made in England in the late 19th century.
Physical description
These 197 marbles are all made from glass and stone, although all of them have internal swirls in different shades of blue, green, white, blue, red, brown, yellow and black. Some of the clear glass has taken on the colour of the internal swirl making them appear to be different coloured tinited glass. The surfaces are slghtly chipped and scratched, presumably from play. There is also evidence on ingrained dirt from their time in the Thames.
Dimensions
  • Largest marble diameter: 2cm (approx.)
  • Medium sized marbles diameter: 1.5cm (approx.)
  • Smallest marble diameter: 1cm (approx.)
Credit line
Given by Graeme Brudenell
Object history
This marble, along with others that have been donated, were found on the banks of the Thames by a professional 'Mudlark'.
Association
Summary
Marbles are one of the oldest known toys and are known to have been played with in the pre-Christian Rome. It is a simple toy, but one that has stood the test of time, going in and out of fashion throughout the ages.

Originally made in the late 19th century, these marbles were found on the banks of the River Thames by a professional 'Mudlark'. This set consists of 197 different coloured and sized marbles, all with internal swirls in shades of green, red, white, blue, brown, orange, yellow, and black.
Collection
Accession number
B.342:1 to 11-2013

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Record createdApril 15, 2014
Record URL
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