H89.46.57

Most common and least expensive of the 19th century ceramic marbles, these are now rare and of higher value than the Benningtons.The tan spots are unglazed areas resulting from contact with other marbles while they were drying. The stripes which were applied after glazing went around the equator and from north to south pole,sometimes floral like designs were also applied. These are primarily in combinations of red-orange,blue and green.These were most probably made in Oakland at the Oakland Pottery Works which distributed marbles all over the west. They were acquired by the donor's father Alvin as a child for use in marble games. He was born in San Francisco in 1879. George H. Horton, the donor was born in 1919 in Oakland. He played with the marbles acquired by his father as well as accumulating marbles of his own. These marbles were commonly referred to by their nickname "crockies". (D. Cooper, 6/2002) There is no "Oakland Pottery Works" in the Oakland Directories for the 1880s and 1890s. As a guess, these marbles may have been made by the Oakland Art Pottery and Terra Cotta Works at 1125 East 12th Street near 23rd Avenue.

Used: Alvin Horton | San Francisco | George H. Horton | Oakland

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