Featured Is this a Bennington toy marble?

I found almost identical marbles on Etsy and eBay.UK that were called stoneware marbles. I also found one on eBay called a "German Bennington Victorina [sic] Era, Fired Hard Clay Marble Shooter Size .796". Does anyone know for certain if these were made by one of the pottery companies in Bennington during the Victorian era, and is there a German connection? Or is it safer to just call it an antique stoneware marble?

 

Or, perhaps, "Head of Martian."

 

Yes it does look like someone from outer space.

 

https://www.marblecollecting.com/marble-reference/online-marble-id-guide/earthenware/

 

Thank you so much, Kronos, for that most informative link to the Marble Collectors Society of America. So, marbles like mine were imported from Germany even though they are called "Bennington" marbles. It was interesting to learn that the "eyes" are created when the marbles touch each other during the firing process.

 

If you are struggling to find information there is a marble collecting group on Facebook. Be warned they are an interesting group of individuals though!
If you aren’t on FB I can post a picture of it for you if you wish.

 

Thank you KSW. I deactivated my FB account several years ago and don't want to go back, but would be interested to see the picture you mentioned. I'm not a marble collector, but have a bunch of glass marbles from my childhood decades ago and will probably sell them eventually.

 

Joan, totally off topic, but thought that was my dog, for a moment! Is it a Bichon? Great photo, and absolutely adorable.

 

I have a few clay marbles. They came from my grandparents house and certainly aren't newer than the early 1900s:

 

Crossed lines
I was offering to post a photo of your marble in the Facebook group to see if we could get some more info for you.

 

He's an Australian labradoodle and belongs to my granddaughter. They both lived with us while she went to college nearby. He's a very loving and affectionate dog, but kind of like having a 3-year-old around, in that he wants to sit on my lap a lot and paws at my arm to tell me he doesn't like me spending so much time on my computer. They're moving out the end of this month, and I'll miss them, but will be able to dog sit occasionally.

 

Oh....I misunderstood. I got all the information I need from Kronos' link to the Marble Collectors Society of America website, but do appreciate your offer to post a photo on FB for me.

 

I've never seen so many colorful clay marbles... they're beautiful.

 

He's a big boy, then. I should have figured that out from the photo, but thought it was just the angle. Our friends have a Labradoodle, and I know what you mean by the 3-year-old reference! I hope his cuteness helps make up for everything else.

Sorry I can't help with the marbles. But I too, have some just like yours, that I've wondered about for years. So thanks for posting this.













1

 

Yes, he weighs about 32-33 lbs. He was supposed to be 20-25 lbs, but his litter mates grew bigger too. His cuteness and personality definitely makes him irresistible, and gives me a reason to take breaks from projects and curl up on the sofa with him.