Origin / Era: Thuringia, Germany; circa late 19th to very early 20th century (c. 1880s–1910s)
Diameter: Measuring from the backstop down to the red sliding indicator jaw puts it at 1 - 15/16 inches (approx. 1.94" / 49–50 mm). It sits just a hair under the massive 2.0" mark.
Base & Coloration:
Core glass consists of an opaque to semi-translucent off-white/greyish base glass swirled with dense cobalt blue ribbons and streaks, along with subtle red/pink flecks/accents embedded within the bands.
Displays distinct opposing pinwheel pontil terminations where the glass strands gather and twist into a central point, characteristic of single- or double-pontil German handcrafting.
UV Light Reaction: Under 365nm UV blacklight, the base/sub-surface glass exhibits a moderate, mottled greenish-yellow fluorescence, indicating the presence of manganese (or low-level uranium content in the batch flux) common in late 19th-century German glass formulations.
Condition Report
Overall Grade: Good (G 7.0–7.5 / 10) (Collector/Dug grade standard for large antique handmade glass).
Surface Wear & Contact Marks: Exhibits significant, honest "as-found" pocket and play wear typical of large handmade boulders.
Heavy overall surface flea bites, moon-shaped contact bruises, and multiple clustered pitting pockets across the outer circumference.
Fractures / Structural Integrity: No catastrophic structural breaks, deep cleaving cracks, or large missing chunks.
Internal annealing striations and surface craze marks are visible under raking light, but the sphere remains entirely solid.
Pontils: Visible ground/pinwheel pontil cut-off spots at the poles, showing normal age roughness, small micro-chips along the termination ring, and slight embedded residue consistent with genuine period manufacture.
Please review the attached pictures for additional details. Shipping will be combined for multiple items purchased and shipped in the same package.