Welcome.
Most 'high quality' marbles listed on eBay really are not. This one is.
First, it was made by Kevin O'Grady. Mr. O'Grady is the man who developed, mastered and perfected the techniques for these creations, and he does them the best of anyone master craftsman. He is also the only craftsman who employs 'Vortex Dichroism'. What does that big name mean? Vortex is the effect in many of his orbs. When gazing into the glass, a vortex extends into the back, way into the back. Farther than the marble. I have estimated that the illusion makes the vortex appear to extend 2.5 times farther than the actual marble is deep.
Dichroic, in my very layman terms minus all the math, means the vortex in this glass exhibits different brilliant colors from the same object when viewed from a different angle. Think certain the details in stones or higher quality polished woods which seem to glimmer and move slightly when your angle of view changes. The video included here best illustrates this phenomenon. For this marvel, the main shades of the dichroism are brilliant silver and lavender. Again, see the video.
Borosilicate glass is used in the creation. What does this mean? It means the best type of hard glass is used to create the most clear, brilliant, liquid-like marble possible. If the other marbles for sale were a Timex watch, Mr. O'Gradys are the Rolex. Miniature pictures - called murine - resembling flowers and sea life are on the underside and throughout the sphere.
Some nicknames given these museum pieces are;
Rainbow Sea
Eye of the Creator
Dreamland
Hubble's Nebula
I mentioned museum quality pieces. A number of Artist O'Gradys works actually are in museums, in Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States. This is not your grandmothers' glass paper weight. This is high art.
This Master Glassmaker signs and dates his work - IN GLASS - on the orb.
Certainly feel free to contact me with any questions. A small ring is included for setting this art glass on.
Diameter - 2.3 inches
Weight - 8.2 ounces