Marble | marble set

Marbles--small spherical toys used in games of dexterity and strategy--have been found in cultures of the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Myans, and North American natives. Made of clay, agate, ceramics, and glass, marbles seems to be a near-universal toy. Artisans hand crafted the first marbles, but a German inventor in 1848 designed scissors for snipping pieces from glass rods which were then rolled and polished. By the 20th century, marble-making machines in Europe and the USA produced glass marbles of affordable prices for all. On playgrounds and streets, kids learned intricate games of skill and chance like long taw, pile game, and spans and snops. Most kids remember a time in grade school when the marble fad consumed much of their play time and each child carried a prized pouch of favorite marbles.