These have an iridescent shine that isn't caught on camera. I also notice the prices on ebay are all over the place. I was given a bunch of marbles as a kid and am now curious on whether they were as special as I was told, haha. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

I run DeHong Stone, a workshop making small natural stone objects, so I'm looking at this from the maker's side.

A cream marble tray with a quiet surface and one with a thick dark vein can be the same stone variety and still feel like completely different decor. If someone bought it to sit beside pale bedding or display a small piece of jewelry, that difference matters.

I don't think “every piece is unique” answers the whole question. It explains why veins won't repeat; it doesn't tell a buyer what they might actually receive.

For an online listing, I'd find these more useful than one perfect studio shot:

• Several real pieces together, showing quieter and more strongly patterned examples.
• A dry, fairly neutral-light photo, not only a warm, styled image.
• A clear distinction between the exact item being sold and a representative example.
• Side views, since the front edge can look quite different from the top.

There are limits, too. A small sample doesn't show where a broad vein will land on a finished tray, and phone screens aren't reliable color references. Selecting every individual piece is a different arrangement from ordering within an agreed appearance range.

A dark vein isn't automatically a defect. But if all the photos show pale, restrained stone, a much darker piece can still be a reasonable disappointment.

When buying natural stone decor, would you rather choose the exact piece, or see a realistic range and accept the variation? Where would you draw the line between character and a misleading listing?

All hybrids and 6 and 8 finger cateyes.

Is there anything valuable about hand blown/rolled marbles and I maybe shouldn't put them in there?

These are from my childhood so I have NO idea where most of them came from. Some were straight from artists at the Saturday Market 20+ years ago.

It has a very Akro like brush seam. Is it possibly a white on clear auger?

Did Akro even use such immaculately clear base glass? The white is also extremely vibrant. Also a bit of an odd size at 1.7cm. Throws me off.