Marbles for play are often mentioned in Roman literature, and marbles have been found among ancient Egyptian artifacts. Ancient marbles were originally made by hand, usually of clay or stone. Stone marbles were made by grinding and clay marbles were rolled into a ball and then dried, usually by firing in a kiln. Clay marbles could be left natural, painted, or glazed.
Marbles in later times were mostly made from clay, agate or glass, varying in size from about a half inch to one inch in diameter.
Marbles today are made in factories by dropping small globs of molten glass into a groove that rotates as the marble travels along. As the marbles are rotated, they are shaped into spheres. Color can be added to the various batches of marbles being created, or other techniques applied that gives marbles additional interest such as the "cat-eye" marble.
Marbles used to be quite popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and even a little later, but once kids were introduced to video games and other indoor activities, interest declined.
~~ Put marbles in a birdbath to attract birds. 
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What Games Did You Play as a Child?
I only played marbles a couple of times. When I was very little 6 or seven, I had a couple because I thought they were pretty.
I only ever had a few marbles growing up, just because I thought they were pretty. My big brother had a lot more. Loved your tips, especially the one about using a marble to see if a floor is level!
well Well WELL I have an extensive collection of marbles, all the way back to gorgeous glass German and clay marbles. I have a picture or two of them on my instagram page. I adore marbles you could say I'm addicted. I inherited a few collections from loved ones who passed and well that got me started. I love the beauty the art of them. I can gaze at them for days...simply get lost in them. Great article.
burntchestnut, Foot massages with marbles are super effective. I also appreciate the shimmer of marbles in a vase of flowers. Thank you for taking the time to spotlight marbles, which are -- or, at least, used to be -- an enchanting part of childhood memories.
My older brother did play marbles in the 50s and 60s. Haven't seen any in a long time. But I found this article interesting, especially what to do with them now. The foot massage sounds great.
I remember playing with marbles when I was a kid. Those days television had not flooded homes of middle class families and we had plenty of time to play with them. You brought those wonderful memories back.
Queenies were the marbles made of white glass with shades or flecks through. I bought one mesh of marbles a few years ago and a triangular dessert glass bowl, makes a wonderfully colorful table center in the conservatory, especially in the summer when the light catches the colors. I played marbles incessantly as a kid, also made a heap of LEGO designs. Both interests are still with me now and I do have to be restrained when I go to places which sell either of these items.