Earlier in September we visited the monthly estate sale at the Olde Mobile Antiques Gallery, LLC, in Mobile, Alabama. We really enjoyed this but they are closing and there will be no more estate sales.
According to their website Old Mobile has offered the “most interesting selection of quality antique furniture, opulent accent pieces, exquisite fine art, and select collectables.” We were very happy to find this gorgeous 17/8” marble and were not surprised to find such collectible contemporary art on a table with other small pieces.
When we got home Jo found these marks on the bottom: “Lundberg Sudios, 2006, 102401.” We have collected for about 25 years now but we had never seen Lundberg’s art before.
Earth Marbles
We have always been attracted to marbles in the shape and form of the earth. We know that a number of glass artists are attracted to making these marbles. Still, they can be unexpectedly difficult to find.
A Cloisonné Marble
In August 2011 Larry’s sister Lynn Howell found one for herself and she gifted one to us. Oddly, she found it in The Crystal Source (https://www.facebook.com/TheCrystalSource/), Nashville, Indiana (http://www.nashville-indiana.com/). If you haven’t explored this little “antique town” then we recommend that you set aside two or three days and give it a visit!
The most exciting thing about our Nashville marble is that it is cloisonné! It is just over ¾” and under 13/16”. Block in Marbles Beyond Glass writes on page 141 that “Cloisonné is enamelware in which the decoration is formed by different colors of enamel, separated by thin strips of metal set on edge. With marbles, these are usually hollow balls not meant to be played with, as they are very fragile. Very few early examples exist.”
Ours is modern and is a representation of the globe. The bright silver wires represent lines of latitude and longitude. Of course, the marble is predominantly blue, but the continents are shades of green, brown, and white. There is the appearance in places of mother of pearl or shell. The continent names are spelled out in red.
While we have certainly looked ever since for another cloisonné marble, we have never found another one.
Lundberg: Another Unique And Exceptional Marble
As unique as our cloisonné marble is, our Lundberg is even more exceptional! It is gorgeous, as you can see, but the geography is also remarkably accurate!
Look at the photograph carefully. See that little dot off the southeastern coast of Africa? Well, that’s the island of Madagascar! Frankly, we have no idea how this marble was made. And you should see the size of Hawaii!
The oceans are both light and dark. Greeland and the North Pole are, of course, are white.
James Lundberg set up a backyard hot shop in 1970 and the Studios are still going strong. We encourage you to visit their website where you can watch the video https://youtu.be/Ep01p9CSGaE and visit their website at http://www.lundbergstudios.com/history/
The Studios are in Davenport, Santa Cruz County, California. “Davenport’s coastline is carpeted with strawberry and artichoke fields and includes sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean. Migrating gray and humpback whales pass by every year, while sea otters, dolphins, blue whales, porpoises, sea lions, and a variety of ocean birds can also be spotted. The North Coast provides easy access to miles of trails and exposed beaches”[1].
When you visit the Lundberg site be sure to check out the “Worlds and Gift Glass” section. Here you will see their “World Weights”. Rebecca Lundberg, at the Studios, assured us in an email that “…if the item is round it would be a marble or sphere. Paperweights have flat bottoms.” Our marble is the smallest art piece in the “Worlds” collection. The largest is 7-8” in diameter!
The Studios also offer iridescent worlds; Christmas ornaments; pumpkins; and so much more! They also list a wide variety of perfume bottles, vases, and lamps. We encourage you to check out the Studios and browse awhile!
Another Unique Piece in Our Collection
We have a few absolutely unique pieces in our collection like this little creamer made for children.
It was made by the Homer Laughlin China Company, 1877 – Present. It was made in June 1915 in East Lilverpool, Ohio.
Our new Lundberg world is right up there with our cloisonné and Homer Laughlin creamer. It is contemporary studio art at its finest. Visit the Studio and see if you can find a piece to add to your collection!
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